Transductin-1 and transductin-2 and applications to hereditary deafness

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecules consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence encoding either transductin-1 (TDC1) or transductin-2 (TDC2), related and derivative nucleic acid molecules, vectors comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid sequences, cells comprising such vectors, polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid molecules, monoclonal antibodies and cell lines producing the monoclonal antibodies. The invention also provides methods of treating, prognosticating and monitoring hearing loss.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to isolated or purified nucleic acids encoding transductin-1 (TDC1; now referred to as transmembrane cochlear-expressed gene 1 (TMC-1)), transductin-2 (TDC2; now referred to as transmembrane cochlear-expressed gene 2 (TMC2)), and fragments thereof, a vector comprising such a nucleic acid, a cell comprising such a vector, an isolated or purified polypeptide, a monoclonal antibody-producing cell line, a monoclonal antibody, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of the above nucleic acids and polypeptides, and methods of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of hearing loss, particularly DFNA 36 and DFNB 7/11-linked hearing loss.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Hearing loss is a common communication disorder. Congenital hearing impairment occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 children born in the United States. See Jain et al., A human recessive neurosensory nonsyndromic hearing impairment locus is a potential homologue of the murine deafness (dn) locus, Human Molecular Genetics 4(12): 2391-2394 (1995); and Scott et al., Refining the DFNB7-DFNB11 deafness locus using intragenic polymorphisms in a novel gene, TMEM2, Gene 246: 265-274 (2000). One to two percent of graduates of neonatal intensive care units also suffer such hearing impairment. See Jain et al. (1995), supra. Nearly 1 in 2 adults have functionally significant hearing loss by the eighth decade of life.

[0003] Deafness can be caused by a number of environmental and disease-related factors. In developed countries, however, at least 50% of the cases of deafness are inherited. See Scott et al. (2000), supra. Factors associated with an increased risk for hearing loss include male gender, exposure to aminoglycoside antibiotics, exposure to noise, head trauma, and barotraumas. The majority of cases seem to involve single gene mutations, as there is no additional clinical anomaly, and an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance predominates. Nonsyndromic hereditary hearing impairment (NSHHI) is considered to be highly heterogeneous, and is thought to be caused by a large number of genes.

[0004] Vertebrates detect sounds, body accelerations and water movements with the acoustico-lateralis sensory system (Hudspeth et al., Sensitivity, polarity, and conductance change in the response of vertebrate hair cells to controlled mechanical stimuli, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74(6): 2407-2411 (1977)). The primary receptors of this system are neuroepithelial cells termed hair cells. Each of these cells has a “hair bundle” on its apical surface, which is comprised of an elongated microvillus (stereocilium) and, in most cases, a single true cilium (kinocilium). Vibrations, such as from sound waves, stimulate the cells by bending the hair bundles. Bending of the hair bundles leads to the production of a small receptor potential, which excites afferent nerve fibers by chemical or electrical synapses. The exact mechanism of the production of the potential is not yet known, with the existence of conflicting data as to the ions involved in creating the potential (Corey et al., Ionic basis of the receptor potential in a vertebrate hair cell, Nature 281: 675-77 (1979)).

[0005] Thus far, linkage studies have been the primary method employed to identify potential loci implicated in hereditary deafness. However, single families suitable in size for conventional linkage analysis are not common. NSHHI also lends itself poorly to subclassification by audiometric criteria. Thus, traditional studies have used consanguineous families from geographically isolated populations to map several different loci which are associated with recessive NSHHI (Jain et al. (1995), supra). In humans certain forms of NSHHI have been found to localize to a region of chromosome 9. See, e.g. Kurima et al., Genetic map localization of DFNA34 and DFNA36, two novel autosomal dominant nonsyndromic deafness loci, ARO Abstracts 24:265 (2001); and Scott et al. (2000), supra. Scott et al. identified a gene in the relevant region of the chromosome; however, it was poorly correlated to hearing loss at the particular locus, as the protein was expressed in a variety of other tissues, such as the heart, brain, spleen, lung, liver, muscle and kidney, and no difference in transcript size or expression level was apparent between normal and deaf mice by Northern blot analysis.

[0006] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gene that correlates well with hearing loss as well as the encoded polypeptide and related vectors, host cells, polypeptides, antibodies, antibody-producing cell lines and methods of diagnosing, prognosticating and treating hearing loss. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding TDC1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides, and an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding human TDC1 or a fragment thereof.

[0008] The present invention further provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding TDC2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides, and an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding human TDC2 or a fragment thereof.

[0009] Also provided by the present invention is a vector comprising one of the above-described isolated or purified nucleic acid molecules. Further provided is a cell comprising one of the above-identified nucleic acid molecules. Also provided is a composition comprising one of the above identified isolated or purified nucleic acid molecules or vectors and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

[0010] An isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding TDC1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 95 contiguous amino acids, which is optionally glycoslyated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt, is also provided.

[0011] An isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding TDC2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids, which is optionally glycoslyated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt, is further provided.

[0012] Also provided is a composition comprising an above-described isolated or purified polypeptide molecule and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided is a cell line that produces a monoclonal antibody that is specific for an above-described isolated or purified polypeptide molecule. Still further provided is the antibody produced by the above-mentioned cell-line.

[0013] Methods of detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal are also provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting at least one mutation in a gene encoding TDC1 in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the TDC1 gene obtained from the animal, wherein the at least one mutation is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. The hair cell can be of the inner ear of the animal. In another embodiment, the method comprises detecting at least one mutation in a gene encoding TDC2 in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the TDC2 gene obtained from the animal, wherein the at least one mutation is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.

[0014] Also provided is a method of determining the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene obtained from an animal. The method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1 gene in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. The method can be used to prognosticate hearing loss or to assess the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss with a given anti-hearing loss agent in accordance with methods set forth herein.

[0015] Further provided is a method of determining the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene obtained from an animal. The method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC2 gene in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. The method can be used to prognosticate hearing loss or to assess the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss with a given anti-hearing loss agent in accordance with methods set forth herein.

[0016] Methods for detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal are also provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting a mutant TDC1 in a test sample comprising protein comprising TDC1 obtained from the animal, wherein the presence of a mutant TDC1 in the test sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. In another embodiment, the method comprises detecting a mutant TDC2 in a test sample comprising protein comprising TDC2 obtained from the animal, wherein the presence of a mutant TDC2 in the test sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.

[0017] Also provided is a method of determining the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 in a test sample comprising protein comprising wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 obtained from an animal. The method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC1 in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. The method can be used to prognosticate hearing loss or to assess the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss with a given anti-hearing loss agent in accordance with methods set forth herein.

[0018] Also provided is a method of determining the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 in a test sample comprising protein comprising wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 obtained from an animal. The method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC2 in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. The method can be used to prognosticate hearing loss or to assess the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss with a given anti-hearing loss agent in accordance with methods set forth herein.

[0019] The invention further provides a method of treating an animal prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss, wherein the hearing loss is due to a complete or partial loss of wild-type TDC1, which method comprises providing TDC1 to the animal, whereupon the animal is treated prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss. The TDC1 can be provided to the animal by administering to the animal a nucleic acid encoding and expressing wild-type TDC1. The TDC1 also can be provided to the animal by administering to the animal the wild-type TDC1 protein.

[0020] The invention still further provides a method of treating an animal prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss, wherein the hearing loss is due to a complete or partial loss of wild-type TDC2, which method comprises providing TDC2 to the animal, whereupon the animal is treated prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss. The TDC2 can be provided to the animal by administering to the animal a nucleic acid encoding and expressing wild-type TDC2. The TDC2 also can be provided to the animal by administering to the animal the wild-type TDC2 protein.

[0021] Further provided is a method of identifying one or more agents which interact with a TDC1 gene and/or a TDC2 gene in a cell, comprising administering one or more agents to the cell comprising the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene and assaying the expression level of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene by the cell, wherein an increase or decrease in the expression level of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene is indicative of an interaction between one or more agents and the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene in the cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022]FIG. 1 represents the nucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 1) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 2) full-length sequences of human TDC1 cDNA.

[0023]FIG. 2 represents the nucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 3) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 4) full-length sequences of human TDC2 cDNA.

[0024]FIG. 3 represents the nucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 5) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 6) full-length sequences of mouse TDC1 cDNA.

[0025]FIG. 4 represents the nucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 7) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 8) full-length sequences of mouse TDC2 cDNA.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The TDC1 and TDC2 genes are implicated in DFNA 36- and DFNB 7/11-linked hearing loss, two forms of hereditary deafness. These genes also may be, at least in part, the cause of certain forms of non-hereditary deafness, or other forms of hereditary deafness. These genes encode a mechanotransduction channel of an animal hair cell, particularly hair cells of the inner ear. These cells are responsible for turning mechanical stimulation (such as sound waves) into chemical signals which can be processed by the brain. Any abnormality in the normal expression of this mechanotransduction channel can lead to hearing loss. This abnormal expression may result from mutations or deletions in the sequence or in the sequences surrounding the particular gene, or from other genetic abnormalities as are known in the art. Particularly, the mutation(s) can compromise the ability of the TDC1 and/or TDC2 gene product to form a component of a hair cell of the inner ear of the animal, thereby causing hearing loss. The mutation(s) can also compromise the ability of the TDC1 and/or TDC2 gene product to form all or some of an ion transduction channel of the hair cell of the inner ear of the animal. Further, the mutation(s) can compromise the mechanosensory activity of the TDC1 and/or TDC2 gene product. Hearing loss can mean either the entire loss or partial loss of hearing as would be understood by an ordinarily skilled artisan. The hearing loss can be hereditary, sensorineural hearing loss, nonsyndromic autosomal-dominant hearing loss, and/or DFNA 36- or DFNB 7/11-linked hearing loss.

[0027] Mutations in TDC1 and/or TDC2 can cause deafness. In particular, dominant mutations can cause childhood-onset, rapidly progressive, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Several recessive mutations can cause congenital, profound bilateral sensorineural deafness. Several of the recessive mutations can also result in functional null alleles: nonsense mutations, genomic deletion of two exons, or frameshift mutations.

[0028] Any animal with hair cells within their auditory receptor can benefit from the present invention. Desirably, the animal is a mammal, preferably a human. However, animals such as birds, especially chickens, also can benefit from the present invention.

[0029] The present invention provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding transductin or a fragment thereof. By transductin is meant TDC1 and/or TDC2, preferably of an animal, and even more preferably of a human. By “isolated” is meant the removal of transductin from its natural environment. By “purified” is meant that transductin, whether it has been removed from nature or synthesized and/or amplified under laboratory conditions, has been increased in purity, wherein “purity” is a relative term, not “absolute purity.” “Nucleic acid molecule” is intended to encompass a polymer of DNA or RNA, i.e., a polynucleotide, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded and which can contain non-natural or altered nucleotides. Moreover, the nucleic acids and genes can comprise exons, introns, and/or regulatory regions and elements.

[0030] Preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consists essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding TDC1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides. The TDC1 can be a human TDC1. In a preferred embodiment, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can encode the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 105 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 110 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 115 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 120 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consists essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 320 contiguous nucleotides. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 330 contiguous nucleotides. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 340 contiguous nucleotides. Further, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can hybridize under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof, such as naturally occurring and artificially generated variants. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 43% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, such as naturally occurring and artificially generated variants. Also preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 50% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1. More preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 70% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 90% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0031] Alternatively, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can encode the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 105 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 110 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 115 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 120 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consists essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 320 contiguous nucleotides. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 330 contiguous nucleotides. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 340 contiguous nucleotides. Further, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can hybridize under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 5 or a fragment thereof, such as naturally occurring and artificially generated variants. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 40% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 5, such as naturally occurring and artificially generated variants. Also preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 45% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 5. More preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 60% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 5. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 80% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 5.

[0032] Also preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consists essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding TDC2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides. The TDC2 can be a human TDC2. In a preferred embodiment, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can encode the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 70 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 75 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 80 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 85 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consists essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 115 contiguous nucleotides. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 130 contiguous nucleotides. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 150 contiguous nucleotides. In a further preferred embodiment, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can hybridize under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 49% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 3. Also preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 55% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 3. More preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 70% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 3. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 90% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 3.

[0033] Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can encode the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids. Also preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can consist essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 115 contiguous nucleotides. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 120 contiguous nucleotides. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 125 nucleotides. In a further preferred embodiment, the fragment can hybridize under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 7 or a fragment thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 41% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 7. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 55% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 7. More preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 75% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 7. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule can share 90% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 7.

[0034] An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding a variant TDC1 or a fragment thereof can comprise one or more insertions, deletions, inversions and/or substitutions. Desirably, the variant TDC1 does not differ functionally from the corresponding unmodified TDC1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides, such as that comprising SEQ ID NO: 1. Preferably, the one or more substitution(s) results in the substitution of an amino acid of the encoded TDC1 with another amino acid of approximately equivalent mass, structure and charge.

[0035] An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding a variant TDC2 or a fragment thereof can comprise one or more insertions, deletions, inversions and/or substitutions. Desirably, the variant TDC2 does not differ functionally from the corresponding unmodified TDC2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides, such as that comprising SEQ ID NO: 3. Preferably, the one or more substitution(s) results in the substitution of an amino acid of the encoded TDC2 with another amino acid of approximately equivalent mass, structure and charge.

[0036] The present invention also provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding human TDC1 or a fragment thereof. Such an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule preferably is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 105 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 110 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 115 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 120 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides. In another preferred embodiment, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof. Preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 43% or more identity with the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1. More preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 50% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1. Even more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 70% or more sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 90% or more sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1. An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to either of a nucleotide sequence encoding a variant TDC1 or a fragment thereof also can be obtained.

[0037] The present invention also provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to either of a nucleotide sequence encoding human TDC2 or a fragment thereof. Such an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule preferably is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 70 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 75 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 80 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 85 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides. In another preferred embodiment, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof. Preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 49% or more identity with the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 3. More preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 55% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 3. Even more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 75% or more sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 3. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule shares 90% or more sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 3. An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to either of a nucleotide sequence encoding a variant TDC2 or a fragment thereof also can be obtained.

[0038] Whereas embodiments of the present invention are described in the context of applications to humans, the teachings set forth herein can be adapted to other animals as a matter of routine experimentation. For example, further disclosed herein are the sequences for a mouse TDC1 (SEQ ID NOS: 5 (nucleic acid) and 6 (amino acid)) and a mouse TDC2 (SEQ ID NOS: 7 (nucleic acid) and 8 (amino acid)). These sequences also can be used in the context of the present invention and constitute alternative preferred embodiments.

[0039] With respect to the above, one of ordinary skill in the art knows how to generate insertions, deletions, inversions and/or substitutions in a given nucleic acid molecule. See, for example, the references cited herein under “Example.” It is preferred that the one or more substitution(s) result(s) in the substitution of an amino acid with another amino acid of approximately equivalent mass, structure and charge.

[0040] Also with respect to the above, “does not differ functionally from” is intended to mean that the variant transductin has activity characteristic of the unmodified transductin. In other words, it regulates a transductin-responsive gene. However, the variant transductin can be more or less active than the unmodified transductin as desired in accordance with the present invention.

[0041] An indication that polynucleotide sequences are substantially identical is if two molecules selectively hybridize to each other under moderately stringent conditions. The phrase “hybridizes to” refers to the selective binding of a single-stranded nucleic acid probe to a single-stranded target DNA or RNA sequence of complementary sequence when the target sequence is present in a preparation of heterogeneous DNA and/or RNA. “Moderately stringent conditions” are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances. Generally, moderately stringent conditions are selected to be about 20° C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe.

[0042] For example, under moderately stringent conditions, as that term is understood by one skilled in the art, hybridization is preferably carried out using a standard hybridization buffer at a temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 75° C., even more preferably from about 60° C. to about 70° C., and optimally from about 65° C. to about 68° C. Alternately, formamide can be included in the hybridization reaction, and the temperature of hybridization can be reduced to preferably from about 35° C. to about 45° C., even more preferably from about 40° C. to about 45° C., and optimally to about 42° C. Desirably, formamide is included in the hybridization reaction at a concentration of from about 30% to about 50%, preferably from about 35% to about 45%, and optimally at about 40%. Moreover, optionally, the hybridized sequences are washed (if necessary to reduce non-specific binding) under relatively highly moderately stringent conditions, as that term is understood by those skilled in the art. For instance, desirably, the hybridized sequences are washed one or more times using a solution comprising salt and detergent, preferably at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 75° C., even more preferably at from about 60° C. to about 70° C., and optimally from about 65° C. to about 68° C. Preferably, a salt (e.g., such as sodium chloride) is included in the wash solution at a concentration of from about 0.01 M to about 1.0 M. Optimally, a detergent (e.g., such as sodium dodecyl sulfate) is also included at a concentration of from about 0.01% to about 1.0%.

[0043] The following are examples of highly stringent and moderately stringent conditions for a Southern hybridization in aqueous buffers (no formamide) (Sambrook and Russell, Molecular Cloning, 3rd Ed. SCHL Press (2001)): Highly stringent Moderately Stringent hybridization conditions: hybridization conditions: 6X SSC or 6X SSPE 6X SSC or 6X SSPE 5 × Denhardt's Reagent 5 × Denhardt's Reagent 1% SDS 1% SDS 100 μg/ml salmon sperm DNA 10 μg/ml salmon sperm DNA hybridization at 65-68° C. hybridization at 58-64° C. Highly stringent Moderately stringent washing conditions: washing conditions: 0.1X SSC/0.1% SDS 2X SSC/0.1% SDS washing at 65-68° C. washing at 58-64° C.

[0044] In view of the above, “stringent conditions” preferably allow for about 20% mismatch, more preferably up to about 15% mismatch, and most preferably up to about 5% mismatch, such as 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% mismatch. “At least moderately stringent conditions” preferably allow for up to about 40% mismatch, more preferably up to about 30% mismatch, and most preferably up to about 20% mismatch. “Low stringency conditions” preferably allow for up to about 60% mismatch, more preferably up to about 50% mismatch, and most preferably up to about 40% mismatch. With respect to the preceding ranges of mismatch, 1% mismatch corresponds to one degree decrease in the melting temperature.

[0045] The above isolated or purified nucleic acid molecules also can be characterized in terms of percentage of sequence identity.” In this regard, a given nucleic acid molecule as described above can be compared to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a corresponding gene (i.e., the reference sequence) by optimally aligning the nucleic acid sequences over a comparison window, wherein the portion of the polynucleotide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the reference sequence, which does not comprise additions or deletions, for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage of sequence identity is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid base occurs in both sequences, i.e., the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison, and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison may be conducted by computerized implementations of known algorithms (e.g., GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis., or BlastN and BlastX available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, Bethesda, Md.), or by inspection. Sequences are typically compared using BESTFIT or BlastN with default parameters.

[0046] “Substantial sequence identity” means that at least 75%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 95% (such as 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%) of the sequence of a given nucleic acid molecule is identical to a given reference sequence. Typically, two polypeptides are considered to be substantially similar if at least 40%, preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 95% (such as 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%) of the amino acids of which the polypeptides are comprised are identical to or represent conservative substitutions of the amino acids of a given reference sequence.

[0047] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, however, that two polynucleotide sequences can be substantially different at the nucleic acid level, yet encode substantially similar, if not identical, amino acid sequences, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. The present invention is intended to encompass such polynucleotide sequences.

[0048] While the above-described nucleic acid molecules can be isolated or purified, alternatively they can be synthesized. Methods of nucleic acid synthesis are known in the art. See, e.g., the references cited herein under “Examples.”

[0049] The above-described nucleic acid molecules can be used, in whole or in part (i.e., as fragments or primers), to identify and isolate corresponding genes from other organisms for use in the context of the present inventive method using conventional means known in the art. See, for example, the references cited herein under “Examples.”

[0050] In view of the above, the present invention also provides a vector comprising an above-described isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule. A nucleic acid molecule as described above can be cloned into any suitable vector and can be used to transform or transfect any suitable host. The selection of vectors and methods to construct them are commonly known to persons of ordinary skill in the art and are described in general technical references (see, in general, “Recombinant DNA Part D,” Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 153, Wu and Grossman, eds., Academic Press (1987) and the references cited herein under “Examples”). Desirably, the vector comprises regulatory sequences, such as transcription and translation initiation and termination codons, which are specific to the type of host (e.g., bacterium, fungus, plant or animal) into which the vector is to be introduced, as appropriate and taking into consideration whether the vector is DNA or RNA. Preferably, the vector comprises regulatory sequences that are specific to the genus of the host. Most preferably, the vector comprises regulatory sequences that are specific to the species of the host.

[0051] Constructs of vectors, which are circular or linear, can be prepared to contain an entire nucleic acid sequence as described above or a portion thereof ligated to a replication system functional in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell. Replication systems can be derived from ColE1, 2 mμ plasmid, λ, SV40, bovine papillomavirus, and the like.

[0052] In addition to the replication system and the inserted nucleic acid, the construct can include one or more marker genes, which allow for selection of transformed or transfected hosts. Marker genes include biocide resistance, e.g., resistance to antibiotics, heavy metals, etc., complementation in an auxotrophic host to provide prototrophy, and the like.

[0053] Suitable vectors include those designed for propagation and expansion or for expression or both. A preferred cloning vector is selected from the group consisting of the pUC series the pBluescript series (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.), the pET series (Novagen, Madison, Wis.), the pGEX series (Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden), and the pEX series (Clonetech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Bacteriophage vectors, such as λGT10, λGT1, λZapII (Stratagene), λ EMBL4, and λ NM149, also can be used. Examples of plant expression vectors include pBI101, pBI101.2, pBI101.3, pBI121 and pBIN19 (Clonetech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Examples of animal expression vectors include pEUK-C1, pMAM and pMAMneo (Clonetech).

[0054] An expression vector can comprise a native or normative promoter operably linked to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule as described above. The selection of promoters, e.g., strong, weak, inducible, tissue-specific and developmental-specific, is within the skill in the art. Similarly, the combining of a nucleic acid molecule as described above with a promoter is also within the skill in the art.

[0055] Also in view of the above, the present invention provides a cell comprising an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule or a vector as described above. Examples of suitable cells include, but are not limited to, a human cell, a human cell line, E. coli, (e.g., E. coli TB-1, TG-2, DH5α, XL-Blue MRF' (Stratagene), SA2821 and Y1090) B. subtilis, P. aerugenosa, S. cerevisiae, and N. crassa.

[0056] The present invention further provides an isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding TDC1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 95 contiguous amino acids, either one of which is optionally glycosylated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule is preferably obtained from a mammalian source. Even more preferably, the mammalian source is a human. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule can be encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 285 contiguous nucleotides. Preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 95 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 100 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 105 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 110 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 24% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 2. More preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 30% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 2. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 45% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 2. Even more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 65% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0057] In a further embodiment, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule can be encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 285 contiguous nucleotides. Additionally, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule can consist essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 95 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 100 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 115 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 130 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 25% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 6. More preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 30% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 6. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 45% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 6. Even more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 65% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 6.

[0058] An isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding a variant TDC1 or a fragment thereof can comprise at least 95 contiguous amino acids, which is optionally glycosylated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt. Still preferably, the fragment comprises at least 100 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 105 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 110 contiguous amino acids.

[0059] The present invention further provides an isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding TDC2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids, either one of which is optionally glycosylated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule is preferably obtained from a mammalian source. Even more preferably, the mammalian source is a human. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule can be encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 213 contiguous nucleotides. Preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 75 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 90 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 105 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 31% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 4. More preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 40% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 4. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 55% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 4. Even more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 75% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 4.

[0060] In a further embodiment, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule can be encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 213 contiguous nucleotides. Preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids. More preferably, the fragment comprises at least 75 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 90 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 105 contiguous amino acids. Alternatively, but still preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 34% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 8. More preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 40% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 8. Still more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 55% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 8. Even more preferably, the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule shares 75% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 8.

[0061] An isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding a variant TDC2 or a fragment thereof can comprise at least 71 contiguous amino acids, which is optionally glycosylated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt. Still preferably, the fragment comprises at least 75 contiguous amino acids. Still more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 90 contiguous amino acids. Even more preferably, the fragment comprises at least 115 contiguous amino acids.

[0062] The polypeptide preferably comprises an amino end and a carboxyl end. The polypeptide can comprise D-amino acids, L-amino acids or a mixture of D- and L-amino acids. The D-form of the amino acids, however, is particularly preferred since a polypeptide comprised of D-amino acids is expected to have a greater retention of its biological activity in vivo, given that the D-amino acids are not recognized by naturally occurring proteases.

[0063] The polypeptide can be prepared by any of a number of conventional techniques. The polypeptide can be isolated or purified from a naturally occurring source or from a recombinant source. For instance, in the case of recombinant polypeptides, a DNA fragment encoding a desired peptide can be subcloned into an appropriate vector using well-known molecular genetic techniques (see, e.g., Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed. (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1989); and Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed. Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989). The fragment can be transcribed and the polypeptide subsequently translated in vitro. Commercially available kits can also be employed (e.g., such as manufactured by Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.; Amersham Life Sciences, Inc., Arlington Heights, Ill.; In Vitrogen, San Diego, Calif., and the like). The polymerase chain reaction optionally can be employed in the manipulation of nucleic acids. In addition, the polypeptide or fragment thereof can be glycosylated in accordance with methods known in the art.

[0064] Alterations of the native amino acid sequence to produce variant polypeptides can be done by a variety of means known to those skilled in the art. For instance, site-specific mutations can be introduced by ligating into an expression vector a synthesized oligonucleotide comprising the modified site. Alternately, oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis procedures can be used such as disclosed in Walder et al., Gene, 42, 133 (1986); Bauer et al., Gene, 37, 73 (1985); Craik, Biotechniques, 12-19 (January 1995); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,518,584 and 4,737,462.

[0065] With respect to the above isolated or purified polypeptides, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that insertions, deletions, inversions and/or substitutions in a nucleotide sequence coding for functional domains of the transductin molecule can lead to a non-functional transductin molecule. Preferably, any variants, as described above, would contain mutations such as insertions, deletions, inversions and/or substitutions in domains which are not critical for transductin activity. For example, as an integral membrane protein, an insertion, inversion, deletion and/or substitution to the transmembrane domain of the transductin molecule may render the molecule unable to insert into the membrane, thus rendering it ineffective as a channel through the cell membrane. Alternatively, the mutation as described above may affect the ability of the channel pore domain to move molecules across the cell membrane. Other domains which are critical for transductin activity can be identified by determining if a mutation(s) to those domains causes a decrease in transductin activity.

[0066] Any appropriate expression vector (e.g., as described in Pouwels et al., Cloning Vectors: A Laboratory Manual (Elsevior, N.Y.: 1985)) and corresponding suitable host can be employed for production of recombinant polypeptides. Expression hosts include, but are not limited to, bacterial species within the genera Escherichia, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, mammalian or insect host cell systems including baculovirus systems (e.g., as described by Luckow et al., Bio/Technology, 6, 47 (1988)), and established cell lines such as the COS-7, C127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa, BHK cell line, and the like. The ordinary skilled artisan is, of course, aware that the choice of expression host has ramifications for the type of polypeptide produced. For instance the glycosylation of polypeptides produced in yeast or mammalian cells (e.g., COS-7 cells) will differ from that of polypeptides produced in bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli.

[0067] Alternately, the polypeptide (including the variant peptides) can be synthesized using standard peptide synthesizing techniques well-known to those of skill in the art (e.g., as summarized in Bodanszky, Principles of Peptide Synthesis, (Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg: 1984)). In particular, the polypeptide can be synthesized using the procedure of solid-phase synthesis (see, e.g., Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85, 2149-54 (1963); Barany et al., Int. J. Peptide Protein Res., 30, 705-739 (1987); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,398). If desired, this can be done using an automated peptide synthesizer. Removal of the t-butyloxycarbonyl (t-BOC) or 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) amino acid blocking groups and separation of the polypeptide from the resin can be accomplished by, for example, acid treatment at reduced temperature. The polypeptide-containing mixture can then be extracted, for instance, with dimethyl ether, to remove non-peptidic organic compounds, and the synthesized polypeptide can be extracted from the resin powder (e.g., with about 25% w/v acetic acid). Following the synthesis of the polypeptide, further purification (e.g., using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)) optionally can be done in order to eliminate any incomplete polypeptides or free amino acids. Amino acid and/or HPLC analysis can be performed on the synthesized polypeptide to validate its identity. For other applications according to the invention, it may be preferable to produce the polypeptide as part of a larger fusion protein, either by chemical conjugation, or through genetic means, such as are known to those skilled in the art.

[0068] If desired, the polypeptides of the invention (including variant polypeptides) can be modified, for instance, by glycosylation, amidation, carboxylation, or phosphorylation, or by the creation of acid addition salts, amides, esters, in particular C-terminal esters, and N-acyl derivatives of the polypeptides of the invention. The polypeptides also can be modified to create polypeptide derivatives by forming covalent or noncovalent complexes with other moieties in accordance with methods known in the art. Covalently-bound complexes can be prepared by linking the chemical moieties to functional groups on the side chains of amino acids comprising the polypeptides, or at the N- or C-terminus.

[0069] Thus, in this regard, the present invention also provides a conjugate comprising an above-described isolated or purified polypeptide molecule or fragment thereof and a targeting moiety. Preferably, the targeting moiety is an antibody or an antigenically reactive fragment thereof. Alternatively, the targeting moiety can be a reporter group, including, but not limited to a radiolabel, a fluorescent label, an enzyme (e.g., that catalyzes a calorimetric or fluorometric reaction), a substrate, a solid matrix, or a carrier (e.g., biotin or avidin). Methods of conjugation are known in the art. In addition, conjugate kits are commercially available.

[0070] The present invention also provides a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and either (i) an above-described isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule or fragment thereof, (ii) an above-described vector, (iii) an above-described polypeptide molecule or fragment thereof, or (iv) an above-described conjugate comprising an above-described isolated or purified polypeptide molecule or fragment thereof and a targeting moiety. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are well-known in the art, and are readily available. The choice of carrier will be determined in part by the particular route of administration and whether a nucleic acid molecule or a polypeptide molecule (or conjugate thereof) is being administered. Accordingly, there is a wide variety of suitable formulations for use in the context of the present invention, and the invention expressly provide a pharmaceutical composition that comprises an active agent of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor. The following methods and carriers are merely exemplary and are in no way limiting.

[0071] Formulations suitable for oral administration can consist of (a) liquid solutions, such as an effective amount of the compound dissolved in diluent, such as water, saline, or orange juice; (b) capsules, sachets or tablets, each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient, as solids or granules; (c) suspensions in an appropriate liquid; and (d) suitable emulsions. Tablet forms can include one or more of lactose, mannitol, corn starch, potato starch, microcrystalline cellulose, acacia, gelatin, colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, talc, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, and other excipients, colorants, diluents, buffering agents, moistening agents, preservatives, flavoring agents, and pharmacologically compatible excipients. Lozenge forms can comprise the active ingredient in a flavor, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth. Pastilles can comprise the active ingredient in an inert base, such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia, emulsions, gels, and the like containing, in addition to the active ingredient, such excipients/carriers as are known in the art.

[0072] An active agent of the present invention, either alone or in combination with other suitable components, can be made into aerosol formulations to be administered via inhalation. These aerosol formulations can be placed into pressurized acceptable propellants, such as dichlorodifluoromethane, propane, nitrogen, and the like. They also can be formulated as pharmaceuticals for non-pressured preparations such as in a nebulizer or an atomizer.

[0073] Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous, isotonic sterile injection solutions, which can contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, and solutes that render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient, and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions that can include suspending agents, solubilizers, thickening agents, stabilizers, and preservatives. The formulations can be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose sealed containers, such as ampules and vials, and can be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid excipient, for example, water, for injections, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions can be prepared from sterile powders, granules, and tablets of the kind previously described.

[0074] Additionally, active agents of the present invention can be made into suppositories by mixing with a variety of bases such as emulsifying bases or water-soluble bases. Formulations suitable for vaginal administration can be presented as pessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams, or spray formulas containing, in addition to the active ingredient, such carriers as are known in the art to be appropriate. Further suitable formulations are found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th ed., (Mack Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa.: 1985), and methods of drug delivery are reviewed in, for example, Langer, Science, 249, 1527-1533 (1990).

[0075] A targeting moiety also can be used in the contact of a cell with an above-described isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule. In this regard, any molecule that can be linked with the therapeutic nucleic acid directly or indirectly, such as through a suitable delivery vehicle, such that the targeting moiety binds to a cell-surface receptor, can be used. The targeting moiety can bind to a cell through a receptor, a substrate, an antigenic determinant or another binding site on the surface of the cell. Examples of a targeting moiety include an antibody (i.e., a polyclonal or a monoclonal antibody), an immunologically reactive fragment of an antibody, an engineered immunoprotein and the like, a protein (target is receptor, as substrate, or regulatory site on DNA or RNA), a polypeptide (target is receptor), a peptide (target is receptor), a nucleic acid, which is DNA or RNA (i.e., single-stranded or double-stranded, synthetic or isolated and purified from nature; target is complementary nucleic acid), a steroid (target is steroid receptor), and the like.

[0076] Analogs of targeting moieties that retain the ability to bind to a defined target also can be used. In addition, synthetic targeting moieties can be designed, such as to fit a particular epitope. Alternatively, the therapeutic nucleic acid can be encapsulated in a liposome comprising on its surface the targeting moiety.

[0077] The targeting moiety includes any linking group that can be used to join a targeting moiety to, in the context of the present invention, an above-described nucleic acid molecule. It will be evident to one skilled in the art that a variety of linking groups, including bifunctional reagents, can be used. The targeting moiety can be linked to the therapeutic nucleic acid by covalent or non-covalent bonding. If bonding is non-covalent, the conjugation can be through hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, hydrophobic or van der Waals interactions, or any other appropriate type of binding.

[0078] Further provided by the present invention is a cell line that produces a monoclonal antibody that is specific for an above-described isolated or purified polypeptide molecule. Methods of making such cell lines are known in the art (see, e.g., the references cited herein under “Examples.”). Preferably, the cells from which the cell line is created are pluripotent stem cells. Even more preferably, the cells are totipotent stem cells. Thus, the present invention also provides the monoclonal antibody produced by the cell line.

[0079] The invention further provides methods for detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting at least one mutation such as 1714G→A (D572N), 100C→T (R34X), 1534C→T (R512X), 295 del A (frameshift and premature termination), 1960 A→G (M654V), IVS3_IVS5del27 kb, IVS13+1G→A, or IVS10-8T→A, in a gene encoding TDC1 in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the TDC1 gene, and/or a polymorphism thereof, obtained from the animal, wherein the at least one mutation is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. In another embodiment, the method comprises detecting at least one mutation in a gene encoding TDC2 in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the TDC2 gene, and/or a polymorphism thereof, obtained from the animal, wherein the at least one mutation is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. The hearing loss can be hereditary, and can further be sensorineural hearing loss. The method can further be used to treat nonsyndromic autosomal-dominant hearing loss. The hearing loss can also be aminoglycoside induced. Furthermore, the hearing loss can be linked to DFNA 36. The method also has application wherein the at least one mutation compromises the ability of the TDC1/TDC2 gene product to form a component of a hair cell of the inner ear of the animal. The component of the hair cell can be all or some of an ion transduction channel of the hair cell of the inner ear of the animal. Alternatively, the at least one mutation can compromise the mechanosensory activity of the TDC1/TDC2 gene product.

[0080] The at least one mutation (e.g., at least two mutations, at least three mutations, at least four mutations, at least five mutations, or even at least ten mutations) in a gene encoding transductin is defined herein as any one or more mutations in the gene encoding transductin which is/are indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal. The at least one mutation can be, for example, any frame-shift mutations, missense mutations and/or nonsense mutations, arising from any insertion, duplication, deletion, inversion, and/or substitution in a gene encoding transductin. The at least one mutation can cause transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and/or post-translational processing errors, e.g., a translation error wherein translation begins at a codon encoding a methionine other than the first methionine of the transductin gene (e.g., a codon encoding the third methionine of the transductin gene). Moreover, the at least one mutation in the transductin gene can cause one or more splicing errors (i.e., splicing mutations), such that a mutant transductin gene is produced. Alternatively, or in addition to, the at least one mutation in the transductin gene can be a mutation that causes transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and/or post-translational processing of the transductin gene to stop prematurely, thereby leading to the expression of a truncated form of transductin. The at least one mutation can also cause a decreased efficiency of transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and/or post-translational processing of the transductin gene product. Moreover, the at least one mutation in the transductin gene can be associated with a compromised ability of the transductin gene product to function normally, as compared to wild-type transductin.

[0081] The at least one mutation in the transductin gene can be detected at one or more nucleic acid positions of the transductin gene, e.g., within any coding region, and/or regulatory region of the transductin gene. The at least one mutation in the transductin gene is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal if, for example, the at least one mutation compromises the transmembrane domain allowing the transductin molecule to traverse the cell membrane. The at least one mutation in the transductin gene also is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal if it compromises the ability of the transductin molecule from associating with other such molecules to form an ion channel. Moreover, the at least one mutation in the transductin gene is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal if the at least one mutation compromises the ability of the transductin gene product to become activated, as compared to wild-type transductin; or compromises the ability of the channel complex to channel ions across a cell membrane.

[0082] The transductin gene in a test sample obtained from an animal can be amplified using any suitable amplification method known in the art, e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR); reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR); ligase chain reaction (LCR) (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,750); isothermal amplification (disclosed in Walker et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 392-396 (1992)); strand displacement amplification (SDA); and repair chain reaction (RCR). Target-specific sequences also can be detected using a cyclic probe reaction (CPR). Moreover, alternative methods for reverse transcription are described in WO 90/07641.

[0083] Any primer sequences can be used in the amplification process, as long as the primer sequences are hybridizable to nucleic acids encoding a wild-type transductin gene, a mutant transductin gene, and/or functional sequence analogs thereof. For example, M13-tailed primers can be used in the amplification process (see Table 1).

[0084] The nucleic acid used as a template for amplification can be isolated from a test sample using any standard methodology (Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989). Alternatively, or in addition to, chromatographic techniques can be employed to effect separation. It will be understood that there are many kinds of chromatography which can be used in the context of the method, e.g., adsorption, partition, ion-exchange and molecular sieve, and many specialized techniques for using them including column, paper, thin-layer and gas chromatography (Freifelder, Physical Biochemistry Applications to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2^(nd) Ed., Wm. Freeman and Co., New York, N.Y. (1982)).

[0085] Amplification products must be visualized in order to confirm amplification of the transductin gene. One typical visualization method involves staining of a gel with ethidium bromide and visualization under UV light. Alternatively, if the amplification products are integrally labeled with radio- or fluorometrically-labeled nucleotides, the amplification products can then be exposed to x-ray film or visualized under the appropriate stimulating spectra, following separation. In one embodiment, visualization is achieved indirectly. Following separation of amplification products, a labeled, nucleic acid probe is brought into contact with and allowed to hybridize with the amplified transductin gene sequence. The probe preferably is conjugated to a chromophore, but may be radiolabeled. In another embodiment, the probe is conjugated to a binding partner, such as an antibody or biotin, where the other member of the binding pair carries a detectable moiety (i.e., a label). One example of the foregoing is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,721, which discloses an apparatus and method for the automated electrophoresis and transfer of nucleic acids.

[0086] When hybridization is employed, preferably, the hybridization is done under high stringency conditions. By “high stringency conditions” is meant that the probe specifically hybridizes to a target sequence in an amount that is detectably stronger than non-specific hybridization. High stringency conditions, then, are conditions that distinguish a polynucleotide with an exact complementary sequence, or one containing only a few scattered mismatches from a random sequence that happened to have a few small regions (e.g., 3-10 bases) that matched the probe. Such small regions of complementarity are more easily melted than a full-length complement of 14-17 or more bases, and moderate stringency hybridization makes them easily distinguishable. Relatively high stringency conditions include, for example, low salt and/or high temperature conditions, such as provided by about 0.02-0.1 M NaCl or the equivalent, at temperatures of about 50-70° C. Such relatively high stringency conditions tolerate little, if any, mismatch between the probe and the template or target strand, and are particularly suitable for detecting expression of specific transductins. It is generally appreciated that conditions can be rendered more stringent by the addition of increasing amounts of formamide.

[0087] The at least one mutation can be detected by sequencing the transductin gene, and comparing the sequence to the wild-type sequence. Alternatively, the at least one mutation may be detected by Southern blot hybridization, a method well known in the art. Yet another alternative is by allele-specific PCR amplification of genomic DNA.

[0088] In addition to the above, the invention provides a method of determining the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene obtained from an animal. The method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1 gene in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss (e.g., hearing loss) or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.

[0089] In addition to the above, the invention provides a method of determining the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene obtained from an animal. The method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC2 gene in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss (e.g., hearing loss) or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.

[0090] A wild-type transductin gene is defined herein is any transductin gene that encodes an transductin gene product that has (i.e., possesses) cation channel capabilities across a cell membrane. A mutant transductin gene is defined herein as any transductin gene that encodes a transductin gene product which has a compromised ability (e.g., little or no ability) to channel cations across a cell membrane, as compared to wild-type transductin.

[0091] The level of a wild-type transductin gene and/or a mutant transductin gene in a test sample obtained from an animal is defined herein as the quantity of nucleic acid comprising a wild-type transductin gene and/or the quantity of nucleic acid comprising a mutant transductin gene in the test sample. “Decreased” and “increased” levels of the wild-type transductin gene and/or a mutant transductin gene are determined by a comparison of the level of wild-type and/or mutant transductin genes present in a test sample obtained from an animal to any suitable control test sample. Suitable control test samples include, for example, a test sample obtained from the same animal at a different point in time and a test sample obtained from a different animal of the same species.

[0092] Various assays can be used to measure the presence and/or level of nucleic acid (i.e., DNA or RNA) comprising a wild-type transductin gene and/or a mutant transductin gene present in a test sample obtained from an animal. For example, assays including PCR and microarray analysis can be used to detect the presence and/or absence of the wild-type transductin gene and/or a mutant transductin gene, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,197,506 and 6,040,138. Moreover, it is understood that the type of assay used depends on whether the nucleic acid of interest being assayed is DNA or RNA. Assays for determining the level of DNA comprising a wild-type transductin gene and/or a mutant transductin gene in a test sample include, for example, Southern hybridization (i.e., a Southern blot), in situ hybridization and microarray analysis. Assays for determining the level of RNA (e.g., mRNA) comprising a wild-type transductin gene and/or a mutant transductin gene in a test sample include, for example, Northern hybridization (i.e., a Northern blot), in situ hybridization and microarray analysis.

[0093] It is also understood that a nucleic acid sequence that specifically binds to, or associates with, a nucleic acid comprising a gene encoding transductin, whether DNA or RNA, can be attached to a label for determining hybridization. A wide variety of appropriate labels are known in the art, including, for example, fluorescent, radioactive, and enzymatic labels, as well as ligands (e.g., avidin/biotin), which are capable of being detected. Preferably, a fluorescent label or an enzyme tag, such as urease, alkaline phosphatase or peroxidase, is used instead of a radioactive or other environmentally undesirable label. In the case of enzyme tags, colorimetric indicator substrates are known which can be employed to provide a detection system that is visible spectrophotometrically, or even visible to the human eye to identify specific hybridization with complementary transductin nucleic acid-containing samples.

[0094] The invention also provides for the use of the method in prognosticating hearing loss (e.g., hearing loss) in an animal. The method comprises determining the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene obtained from the animal, and comparing the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene in the test sample to the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis, an increase in the level of the nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a decrease in the level of the nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene is indicative of a favorable prognosis, and no change in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene is indicative of no change in the hearing loss.

[0095] The invention also provides for the use of the method in assessing the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss in the animal with a given anti-hearing loss agent. The method comprises comparing the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene in the test sample to the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being effective, an increase in the level of the nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a decrease in the level of the nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being ineffective, and no change in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene is indicative of no change in the hearing loss due to treatment with the anti-hearing loss agent.

[0096] A mutant transductin gene product also can be detected in a test sample obtained from an animal and is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. Accordingly, the present invention further provides a method for detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal comprising detecting a mutant transductin in a test sample comprising protein comprising transductin obtained from the animal, wherein the presence of a mutant transductin in the test sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal. Examples of such mutations, which are indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss, have been described above. Thus, the method comprises detecting a mutant TDC1/TDC2 in a test sample comprising protein comprising TDC1/TDC2 obtained from the animal, wherein the presence of a mutant TDC1/TDC2 in the sample is indicative of hearing loss, or a predisposition to bearing loss in the animal. The hearing loss can be hereditary, sensorineural hearing loss, nonsyndromic autosomal-dominant, and/or DFNA 36-linked hearing loss. The ability of the mutant TDC1/TDC2 to form a component of a hair cell of the inner ear of the animal can be compromised. The ability of the mutant TDC1/TDC2 to form all or some of an on transduction channel of the hair cell of the inner ear of the animal can be compromised. The mechanosensory activity of the mutant TDC1/TDC2 can also be compromised.

[0097] The levels of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 also can be determined. Accordingly, the invention also provides a method of determining the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 in a test sample comprising protein comprising wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 obtained from an animal. The method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC1/TDC2 in the test sample as compared to a control sample (as described previously) is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.

[0098] Various assays (i.e., immunobinding assays) are contemplated for detecting and/or measuring the quantity of wild-type transductin and/or a mutant transductin in a test sample obtained from an animal. For example, separate and distinct antibodies can be prepared and employed to detect wild-type transductin and a mutant transductin, respectively. Alternatively, wild-type transductin and a mutant transductin can be utilized to detect antibodies having reactivity therewith. The steps of various useful immunodetection assays have been described, for example, in Nakamura et al., Handbook of Experimental Immunology (4^(th) Ed)., Vol. 1, Chapter 27, Blackwell Scientific Publ., Oxford (1987); Nakamura et al., Enzyme Immunoassays: Heterogenous and Homogenous Systems, Chapter 27 (1987). Suitable immunoassays include, for example, Western hybridization (i.e., Western blots), immunoaffinity purification, immunoaffinity detection, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (e.g., an ELISA), and radioimmunoassay. Moreover, a microarray can be used to detect and/or measure the levels of wild-type transductin and/or a mutant transductin in a test sample obtained from an animal.

[0099] In general, the immunobinding assays involve obtaining a test sample suspected of containing a protein, peptide, polypeptide, and/or antibody corresponding to wild-type transductin and/or a mutant transductin, and contacting the test sample with one or more antibodies under conditions effective to allow the formation of immunocomplexes. It is suitable, for example, to contact concurrently, or sequentially, a test sample obtained from an animal with an antibody that is specific to wild-type transductin and with an antibody that is specific to a mutant transductin.

[0100] Any suitable antibody can be used in conjunction with the present invention such that the antibody is specific for wild-type transductin. Likewise, any suitable antibody can be used in conjunction with the present invention such that the antibody is specific for a mutant transductin. In particular, suitable antibodies recognize and interact with (i.e., bind to) one or more portions of wild-type transductin and with one or more portions of a mutant transductin. Moreover, suitable antibodies include antibodies that recognize and interact with other antibodies present in a test sample that bind to wild-type transductin. Likewise, suitable antibodies include antibodies that recognize and interact with other antibodies present in a test sample that bind to a mutant transductin. Antibodies for use in the present inventive methods can be produced by any known technique, e.g., as described in Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1988).

[0101] Contacting a test sample comprising a protein comprising wild-type transductin and/or a mutant transductin with an antibody or antibodies that recognize wild-type transductin and/or a mutant transductin under conditions effective, and for a period of time sufficient, to allow for formation of immune complexes (primary immune complexes) is generally a matter of adding the antibody to the test sample and incubating the mixture for a period of time long enough for the antibodies to form immune complexes with wild-type transductin and/or a mutant transductin. Detection of immunocomplex formations can be achieved through the application of numerous techniques which are well-known in the art. These detection methods are generally based upon the detection of a label or marker, such as any radioactive, fluorescent, biological a enzymatic labels of standard use in the art, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,837, 3,850,752, 3,939,350, 3,996,345, 4,277,437, 4,275,149 and 4,366,241. Of course, additional advantages can be realized by using a secondary binding ligand, such as a second antibody or a biotin/avidin ligand binding arrangement, as is known in the art.

[0102] The antibody or antibodies which is/are used in the context of the present invention can, themselves, be linked to a detectable label. Such a detectable label allows for the presence of, or the amount of, the primary immune complexes to be determined. Alternatively, the first added component that becomes bound within the primary immune complexes can be detected by means of a second binding ligand that has binding affinity for the first antibody. In these cases, the second binding ligand is, itself, often an antibody, which can be termed a “secondary” antibody. The primary immune complexes are contacted with the labeled, secondary binding ligand, or antibody, under conditions effective and for a period of time sufficient to allow the formation of secondary immune complexes. The secondary immune complexes are then washed to remove any non-specifically bound labeled secondary antibodies or ligands, and the remaining label in the secondary immune complexes is then detected.

[0103] Further methods include the detection of primary immune complexes by a two-step approach. A second binding ligand, such as an antibody, that has binding affinity for the first antibody is used to form secondary immune complexes, as described above. After washing, the secondary immune complexes are contacted with a third binding ligand or antibody that has binding affinity for the second antibody, again under conditions effective and for a period of time sufficient to allow the formation of immune complexes (tertiary immune complexes). The third ligand or antibody is linked to a detectable label, allowing detection of the tertiary immune complexes thus formed.

[0104] The invention also provides for the use of the method in prognosticating hearing loss in an animal. The method comprises comparing the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 in the test sample to the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC1/TDC2 is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis, an increase in the level of the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a decrease in the level of a mutant TDC1/TDC2 is indicative of a favorable prognosis, and no change in the level of the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 gene is indicative of no change in the hearing loss.

[0105] The invention also provides for the use of the method in assessing the efficacy of treatment of bearing loss in an animal. The method comprises comparing the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 in the test sample to the level of wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC1/TDC2 is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being effective, an increase in the level of the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a decrease in the level of a mutant TDC1/TDC2 is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being ineffective, and no change in the level of the wild-type TDC1/TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC1/TDC2 is indicative of no change in the hearing loss due to treatment with the anti-hearing loss agent.

[0106] The invention also provides a method of treating an animal prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss (e.g., hearing loss), wherein the hearing loss is due to a complete or partial loss of wild-type TDC1/TDC2, which method comprises providing TDC1/TDC2 to the animal, whereupon the animal is treated prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss. Use of the terms “prophylactically,” “prophylaxis,” and derivatives of these terms is not meant to be limited to absolute prevention of hearing loss, but also less than 100% prevention of hearing loss. The ordinarily skilled artisan will appreciate that a less than 100% prevention of hearing loss may still be beneficial to an animal, and thus contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. The hearing loss can be hereditary, sensorineural hearing loss, nonsyndromic autosomal-dominant, and/or DFNA 36-linked hearing loss. The ability of the mutant TDC1/TDC2 to form a component of a hair cell of the inner ear of the animal can be compromised. The ability of the mutant TDC1/TDC2 to form all or some of an on transduction channel of the hair cell of the inner ear of the animal can be compromised. The mechanosensory activity of the mutant TDC1/TDC2 also can be compromised.

[0107] Any suitable method can be used for administering or providing transductin to an animal, wherein the transductin enters the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of one or more hearing loss cells (e.g., one or more hearing loss cells) of the animal and functions within the cell(s) in a manner which is typical of wild-type transductin. For example, transductin can be provided to the animal by administering to the animal the wild-type transductin protein, or a portion thereof (e.g., two or more different forms of wild-type transductin). Moreover, transductin can be provided to an animal through administration of a fusion protein comprising wild-type transductin, or a portion thereof, operably linked to one or more moieties of interest (e.g., two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more therapeutic moieties, such as anti-hearing loss agents, and/or any compounds which stimulate transductin). In another embodiment, transductin is provided to an animal through administration of a nucleic acid encoding and expressing wild-type transductin, or a portion thereof. Moreover, transductin can be provided to an animal through administration of a nucleic acid encoding and expressing a fusion protein comprising wild-type transductin, or a portion thereof, operably linked to one or more moieties of interest. The administered nucleic acid can be in any suitable form. For example, the administered nucleic acid can be naked DNA or RNA. Moreover, the administered nucleic acid can be part of any suitable vector or vector system. Suitable vectors for use in the method include, for example, plasmid vectors, retroviral vectors, adenoviral vectors, adeno-associated viral vectors, vaccinia virus, sindbis virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, defective hepatitis B viruses, and any other vector or vector system known in the art. Fusion proteins and nucleic acids encoding and expressing fusion proteins can be produced using any standard methods of recombinant production and synthesis known in the art, as described, for example, in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989.

[0108] In view of the above, also provided is a composition. The composition comprises (i) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and (ii) transductin or a portion thereof; a fusion protein comprising transductin or a portion thereof, operably linked to one or more moieties of interest; a nucleic acid encoding and expressing transductin or a portion thereof; and/or a nucleic acid encoding and expressing a fusion protein comprising transductin or a portion thereof, operably linked to one or more moieties of interest.

[0109] The carrier can be any suitable carrier. Preferably, the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. With respect to compositions, the carrier can be any of those conventionally used and is limited only by chemico-physical considerations, such as solubility and lack of reactivity with transductin, and by the route of administration. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that, in addition to the above-described composition, the compositions of the present inventive methods can be formulated as inclusion complexes, such as cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, or liposomes. The pharmaceutically acceptable carriers described herein, for example, vehicles, adjuvants, excipients, and diluents, are well-known to those skilled in the art and are readily available to the public. It is preferred that the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier be one which is chemically inert to transductin and one which has no detrimental side effects or toxicity under the conditions of use.

[0110] As is understood in the art, the choice of carrier is dependent on several factors, e.g., the type of hearing loss being treated and the route of administration of the composition. Such a choice of carrier for use in the composition of the present invention is well within the ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, there are a variety of suitable formulations of the composition of the present invention. Such formulations include but, are not limited to, oral, aerosol, parenteral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, interperitoneal, rectal, and vaginal formulations.

[0111] One skilled in the art will appreciate that suitable methods of administering a composition of the invention to an animal, in particular a human, are available, and, although more than one route can be used to administer a particular compound, a particular route can provide a more immediate and more effective reaction than another route.

[0112] Desirably, gene replacement therapy would be employed to treat therapeutically hereditary deafness in a mammal resulting from a mutation or deletion of TDC1 and/or TDC2. Methods of constructing vectors encoding therapeutic genes are known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such constructs include viral vectors, preferably adenoviral or adeno-associated viral vectors, naked DNA, plasmid vector, and other genetic constructs. The vectors can be delivered by any method known in the art. Ideally, these vectors would be delivered to the animal transtympanically.

[0113] The dose administered to an animal, in particular a human, should be sufficient to treat the hearing loss prophylactically or therapeutically. One skilled in the art will recognize that dosage will depend upon a variety of factors including the strength of the particular composition employed, as well as the age, species, condition, and body weight of the animal. The size of the dose will also be determined by the route, timing, and frequency of administration as well as the existence, nature, and extent of any adverse side-effects that might accompany the administration of a particular composition and the desired physiological effect.

[0114] Suitable doses and dosage regimens can be determined by conventional range-finding techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Generally, a composition is initially administered in smaller dosages, which are less than the optimum dose of the composition. Thereafter, the dosage is increased by small increments until the optimum effect under the circumstances is reached.

[0115] Also provided is a method of identifying one or more agent(s) which interact with a mechanotransduction channel of a cell of an animal. This method comprises administering one or more agent(s) to the mechanotransduction channel and assaying the mechanotransduction activity of the mechanotransduction channel, wherein an increase or decrease in the mechanotransduction activity of the mechanotransduction channel is indicative of an interaction between one or more agents and the mechanotransduction channel of the cell of the animal. Preferably, the cell used in the present method would be a hair cell of the inner ear of the animal.

[0116] The activity of the mechanotransduction can be measured by techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the channel of ions across a cell membrane to create a electropotential can be measured as generally described by Corey et al., Ionic basis of the receptor potential in a vertebrate hair cell, Nature 281: 675-77 (1979), and Hudspeth et al., Sensitivity, polarity, and conductance change in response of vertebrate hair cells to controlled mechanical stimuli, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74(6): 2407-11 (1977).

[0117] Further provided is a method of identifying one or more agent(s) which interact with a TDC1 gene and/or a TDC2 gene in a cell, comprising administering one or more agents to the cell comprising the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene and assaying the expression level of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene by the cell as described herein, supra, wherein an increase or decrease in the expression level of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene, as the terms have been described, supra, is indicative of an interaction between one or more agents and the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene in the cell.

[0118] The ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize that several methods of assaying the expression level of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene exist. For example, mRNA can be quantified by a Northern blot analysis using a polynucleotide synthesized to hybridize to mRNA encoding TDC1 and/or TDC2. The polynucleotide can be attached to a probe, or can contain a radioisotope to facilitate detection of specific hybridization of mRNA encoding TDC1 and/or TDC2. Alternatively, the level of expression of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene can also be assayed by quantifying the TDC1 and/or TDC2 polypeptide produced by the cell. For example, the cells to which the one or more agents have been administered can be contacted with a monoclonal antibody specific to TDC1 or TDC2. Antibody assays for protein are also well-known in the art as described, supra.

[0119] While the present invention is described above in the context of hearing loss, it is possible that the present invention has application in the context of balance. Indeed, the inner ear is known to comprise two systems: the auditory system, which is mainly used for audition, and the vestibular system, which functions in maintaining balance and equilibrium of the body. It has been described herein that when the auditory system (i.e., the cochlea) expresses mutant forms of either TDC1 and/or TDC2, hearing loss results. It is possible, therefore, that the vestibular system, which is responsible for linear and angular acceleration (i.e., balance), can express mutant forms of these genes as well; however, since the vestibular system controls balance as opposed to audition, it is likely that mutations and/or low expression levels of these genes in the vestibular system would result in abnormal balance or even a complete loss of balance. Thus, the methods of the invention, as they relate to TDC1 and TDC2, can be carried out with respect to hearing loss and, possibly, abnormal balance or a predisposition to abnormal balance as well.

EXAMPLE

[0120] The following example further illustrates the invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

[0121] The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplary procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, are specifically incorporated herein by reference:

[0122] Birren et al., Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series, Volume 1, Analyzing DNA, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1997),

[0123] Birren et al., Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series, Volume 2, Detecting Genes, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1998),

[0124] Birren et al., Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series, Volume 3, Cloning Systems, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1999),

[0125] Birren et al., Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series, Volume 4, Mapping Genomes, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1999),

[0126] Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1988),

[0127] Harlow et al., Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1999), and

[0128] Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989).

Example 1

[0129] Mouse and human cochlear cells were lysed, and mRNA transcripts were purified from the cell lysate. Methods of cell lysis and subsequent mRNA purification are well-known in the art. The Human Genome Project database was analyzed for the sequences in the human genome that correlated highly with hearing loss in linkage studies. DNA primers were constructed from this information using techniques known in the art. These primers were employed in reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) on the purified mRNA from cochlear cell lysates. Both methods are also well-known in the art. The resulting cDNA molecules were sequenced and identified as TDC1 and TDC2.

[0130] All of the references cited herein are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference.

[0131] While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations of the preferred compounds and methods may be used and that it is intended that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

1 8 1 4333 DNA Homo sapiens 1 cagaaactat gagggcagaa cccagcaatc tgtgctttct ttcacaagcc ctccaggagt 60 tgctgaaatt taggaatcat tgccccaaaa agtggccctc ataatgatgc cagatgggat 120 cttactctgt tgcccaggct ggagtgcagt ggtgcgatct cggctctctg caacctccgc 180 ctcccaggtt caagtgattc tcctgcctcg gcctcctgag tagctgggat ttcaggccat 240 gaaagatcac tgttttagtc tgcgtggtgc agtggaacag atagacctcg gtttgaatct 300 cagctctact gtttactaga cgtgaaatgg ggaaatctaa aatgagatgc cagaagcctc 360 aaaaatggaa aaccccctgt gcttcacatc tgaaaatctc tgctgggggc agcaactttg 420 agcctgtggg gaaggaactg tccacgtgga gtggtctggt gaatgcttaa ggagctgcag 480 aagggaagtc cctctccaaa ctagccagcc actgagacct tctgacagga cacccccagg 540 atgtcaccca aaaaagtaca aatcaaagtg gaggaaaaag aagacgagac tgaggaaagc 600 tcaagtgaag aggaagagga ggtggaagat aagctacctc gaagagagag cttgagacca 660 aagaggaaac ggaccagaga tgttatcaat gaggatgacc cagaacctga accagaggat 720 gaagaaacaa ggaaggcaag agaaaaagag aggaggagga ggctaaagag aggagcagaa 780 aaagaagaaa ttgatgaaga ggaattggaa agattgaagg cagagttaga tgagaaaaga 840 caaataattg ctactgtcaa atgcaaacca tggaagatgg agaagaaaat tgaagttctc 900 aaggaggcaa aaaaatttgt gagtgaaaat gaaggggctc ttgggaaagg aaaaggaaaa 960 cggtggtttg catttaagat gatgatggcc aagaaatggg caaaattcct ccgtgatttt 1020 gagaacttca aagctgcgtg tgtcccatgg gaaaataaaa tcaaggctat tgaaagtcag 1080 tttggctcct cagtggcctc atacttcctc ttcttgagat ggatgtatgg agtcaatatg 1140 gttctcttta tcctgacatt tagcctcatc atgttgccag agtacctctg gggtttgcca 1200 tatggcagtt tacctaggaa aaccgttccc agagccgaag aggcatcggc agcaaacttt 1260 ggtgtgttgt acgacttcaa tggtttggca caatattccg ttctctttta tggctattat 1320 gacaataaac gaacaattgg atggatgaat ttcaggttgc cgctctccta ttttctagtg 1380 gggattatgt gcattggata cagctttctg gttgtcctca aagcaatgac caaaaacatt 1440 ggtgatgatg gaggtggaga tgacaacact ttcaatttca gctggaaggt ctttaccagc 1500 tgggactacc tgatcggcaa tcctgaaaca gcagacaaca aatttaattc tatcacaatg 1560 aactttaagg aagctatcac agaagaaaaa gcagcccaag tagaagaaaa cgtccacttg 1620 atcagattcc tgaggtttct ggctaacttc ttcgtgtttc taacacttgg agggagtgga 1680 tacctcatct tttgggctgt gaagcgatcc caggaatttg cacagcaaga tcctgacacc 1740 cttgggtggt gggaaaaaaa tgaaatgaac atggttatgt ccctcctagg gatgttctgt 1800 ccaacattgt ttgacttatt tgctgaatta gaagactacc atcctctcat cgctttgaaa 1860 tggctactgg gacgcatttt tgctcttctt ttaggcaatt tatacgtatt tattcttgca 1920 ttaatggatg agattaacaa caagattgaa gaggagaagc tagtaaaggc caatattacc 1980 ctttgggaag ccaatatgat caaggcctac aatgcatcat tctctgaaaa tagcactgga 2040 ccaccctttt ttgttcaccc tgcagatgta cctcgaggac cttgctggga aacaatggtg 2100 ggacaggagt ttgtgaggct gacagtctct gatgttctga ccacctacgt cacaatcctc 2160 attggggact ttctaagggc atgttttgtg aggttttgca attattgctg gtgctgggac 2220 ttggagtatg gatatccttc atacaccgaa ttcgacatca gtggcaacgt cctcgctctg 2280 atcttcaacc aaggcatgat ctggatgggc tccttctttg ctcccagcct cccaggcatc 2340 aatatccttc gactccatac atccatgtac ttccagtgct gggccgttat gtgctgcaat 2400 gttcctgagg ccagggtctt caaagcttcc agatcaaata acttctacct gggcatgcta 2460 ctgctcatcc tcttcctgtc cacaatgcct gtcttgtaca tgatcgtgtc cctcccacca 2520 tcttttgatt gtggtccatt cagtggcaaa aatagaatgt ttgaagtcat tggagagacc 2580 ctggagcacg atttcccaag ctggatggcg aagatcttga gacagctttc aaaccctggg 2640 ctggtcattg ctgtcatttt ggtgatggtt ttggccatct attatctcaa tgctactgcc 2700 aagggccaga aggcagcgaa tctggatctc aaaaagaaga tgaaaatgca agctttggag 2760 aacaaaatgc gaaacaagaa aatggcagct gcacgagcag ctgcagctgc tggtcgccag 2820 taataagtat cctgagagcc cagaaaaggt acactttgcc ttgctgttta aaagtaatgc 2880 aatatgtgaa cgcccagaga acaagcactg tggaactgct attttcctgt tctacccttg 2940 atggattttc aaggtcatgc tggccaatta aggcatcatc agtcctacct gagcaacaag 3000 aatctaaact ttattccaag tcagaaactg tttctgcaga gccactctct cccctgctcc 3060 atttcgtgac tttttttttt tttttaacaa attgagttta gaagtgagtg taatccagca 3120 atacagttta ctggtttagt tggtgggtta attaaaaaaa atttgctcat atgaactttc 3180 attttatatg tttcttttgc ctgagtttcc ttaaactgag agcagaaata tttcaccctt 3240 tttcctctaa gttcagaaat atttgcaaaa agtactcatt gtaatcattc attaactcac 3300 tttttgaaac caatacctta ttttctcttt ttttctacct gtctccccaa ccacgcgccc 3360 cacaaatata ttcctaaaac ctttgtattt ggtgctggat tcagtatgaa aagaaatagg 3420 gtttttagaa gaaaaaaaaa tcctatatga attggggcct ggatagcact gaggttgaag 3480 atcttgaaga tctcttactt tgagaaggta catgagtctt acacaaccta gctttttatg 3540 agataaaatt aaaaaaaaaa ggaaagacat cataaatgac tgttgttctc tcacagtctg 3600 ctcatttgtc ttccaatgat catgttatca gtggtgaatc catacaggtc tgcatcaaac 3660 tcgatacaat tcttgcctcc ttggagggaa gaattcagct gaggggcaga agtaggttta 3720 tggcagaggg agagaatgag gcaagtttta gagcaggagt gtaggtttat taaaaagttt 3780 tacagcagga acaaaaggaa ataaaatata cttggaagag agccaagtgg gcaaattgag 3840 agttccaagt gccctgttca gctttgacct gggtttctat acactggcat ggttctggag 3900 tttgcatctc tccccgcttg atttttttgg cggatgggct gtccgtgtgg atggtggcct 3960 gccggcagtt ggaaggagct atgtgtacaa tgtgttactg aagttgtgtg cctgctcact 4020 tgtgacgttt tcccttacca tccagcgttc ctggaggaag gtcatatact agttaaactc 4080 tgccattttg cttagtgggc atgcttgagc ccacttgccc aactcctaag atctccggct 4140 caggtgtttt ctatctattg ggagactgtc tttccctagc actggttgcc actaattatt 4200 attttagaga gatagtttaa ccaccacctg accatcacca aatggtcacc tgacattcct 4260 gtgggatggg tggtgggggg cctctcttgc cctgcttatg tttttatgtt tgcctaacta 4320 cctactctaa caa 4333 2 760 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Ser Pro Lys Lys Val Gln Ile Lys Val Glu Glu Lys Glu Asp Glu 1 5 10 15 Thr Glu Glu Ser Ser Ser Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Glu Asp Lys Leu 20 25 30 Pro Arg Arg Glu Ser Leu Arg Pro Lys Arg Lys Arg Thr Arg Asp Val 35 40 45 Ile Asn Glu Asp Asp Pro Glu Pro Glu Pro Glu Asp Glu Glu Thr Arg 50 55 60 Lys Ala Arg Glu Lys Glu Arg Arg Arg Arg Leu Lys Arg Gly Ala Glu 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Glu Ile Asp Glu Glu Glu Leu Glu Arg Leu Lys Ala Glu Leu 85 90 95 Asp Glu Lys Arg Gln Ile Ile Ala Thr Val Lys Cys Lys Pro Trp Lys 100 105 110 Met Glu Lys Lys Ile Glu Val Leu Lys Glu Ala Lys Lys Phe Val Ser 115 120 125 Glu Asn Glu Gly Ala Leu Gly Lys Gly Lys Gly Lys Arg Trp Phe Ala 130 135 140 Phe Lys Met Met Met Ala Lys Lys Trp Ala Lys Phe Leu Arg Asp Phe 145 150 155 160 Glu Asn Phe Lys Ala Ala Cys Val Pro Trp Glu Asn Lys Ile Lys Ala 165 170 175 Ile Glu Ser Gln Phe Gly Ser Ser Val Ala Ser Tyr Phe Leu Phe Leu 180 185 190 Arg Trp Met Tyr Gly Val Asn Met Val Leu Phe Ile Leu Thr Phe Ser 195 200 205 Leu Ile Met Leu Pro Glu Tyr Leu Trp Gly Leu Pro Tyr Gly Ser Leu 210 215 220 Pro Arg Lys Thr Val Pro Arg Ala Glu Glu Ala Ser Ala Ala Asn Phe 225 230 235 240 Gly Val Leu Tyr Asp Phe Asn Gly Leu Ala Gln Tyr Ser Val Leu Phe 245 250 255 Tyr Gly Tyr Tyr Asp Asn Lys Arg Thr Ile Gly Trp Met Asn Phe Arg 260 265 270 Leu Pro Leu Ser Tyr Phe Leu Val Gly Ile Met Cys Ile Gly Tyr Ser 275 280 285 Phe Leu Val Val Leu Lys Ala Met Thr Lys Asn Ile Gly Asp Asp Gly 290 295 300 Gly Gly Asp Asp Asn Thr Phe Asn Phe Ser Trp Lys Val Phe Thr Ser 305 310 315 320 Trp Asp Tyr Leu Ile Gly Asn Pro Glu Thr Ala Asp Asn Lys Phe Asn 325 330 335 Ser Ile Thr Met Asn Phe Lys Glu Ala Ile Thr Glu Glu Lys Ala Ala 340 345 350 Gln Val Glu Glu Asn Val His Leu Ile Arg Phe Leu Arg Phe Leu Ala 355 360 365 Asn Phe Phe Val Phe Leu Thr Leu Gly Gly Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ile Phe 370 375 380 Trp Ala Val Lys Arg Ser Gln Glu Phe Ala Gln Gln Asp Pro Asp Thr 385 390 395 400 Leu Gly Trp Trp Glu Lys Asn Glu Met Asn Met Val Met Ser Leu Leu 405 410 415 Gly Met Phe Cys Pro Thr Leu Phe Asp Leu Phe Ala Glu Leu Glu Asp 420 425 430 Tyr His Pro Leu Ile Ala Leu Lys Trp Leu Leu Gly Arg Ile Phe Ala 435 440 445 Leu Leu Leu Gly Asn Leu Tyr Val Phe Ile Leu Ala Leu Met Asp Glu 450 455 460 Ile Asn Asn Lys Ile Glu Glu Glu Lys Leu Val Lys Ala Asn Ile Thr 465 470 475 480 Leu Trp Glu Ala Asn Met Ile Lys Ala Tyr Asn Ala Ser Phe Ser Glu 485 490 495 Asn Ser Thr Gly Pro Pro Phe Phe Val His Pro Ala Asp Val Pro Arg 500 505 510 Gly Pro Cys Trp Glu Thr Met Val Gly Gln Glu Phe Val Arg Leu Thr 515 520 525 Val Ser Asp Val Leu Thr Thr Tyr Val Thr Ile Leu Ile Gly Asp Phe 530 535 540 Leu Arg Ala Cys Phe Val Arg Phe Cys Asn Tyr Cys Trp Cys Trp Asp 545 550 555 560 Leu Glu Tyr Gly Tyr Pro Ser Tyr Thr Glu Phe Asp Ile Ser Gly Asn 565 570 575 Val Leu Ala Leu Ile Phe Asn Gln Gly Met Ile Trp Met Gly Ser Phe 580 585 590 Phe Ala Pro Ser Leu Pro Gly Ile Asn Ile Leu Arg Leu His Thr Ser 595 600 605 Met Tyr Phe Gln Cys Trp Ala Val Met Cys Cys Asn Val Pro Glu Ala 610 615 620 Arg Val Phe Lys Ala Ser Arg Ser Asn Asn Phe Tyr Leu Gly Met Leu 625 630 635 640 Leu Leu Ile Leu Phe Leu Ser Thr Met Pro Val Leu Tyr Met Ile Val 645 650 655 Ser Leu Pro Pro Ser Phe Asp Cys Gly Pro Phe Ser Gly Lys Asn Arg 660 665 670 Met Phe Glu Val Ile Gly Glu Thr Leu Glu His Asp Phe Pro Ser Trp 675 680 685 Met Ala Lys Ile Leu Arg Gln Leu Ser Asn Pro Gly Leu Val Ile Ala 690 695 700 Val Ile Leu Val Met Val Leu Ala Ile Tyr Tyr Leu Asn Ala Thr Ala 705 710 715 720 Lys Gly Gln Lys Ala Ala Asn Leu Asp Leu Lys Lys Lys Met Lys Met 725 730 735 Gln Ala Leu Glu Asn Lys Met Arg Asn Lys Lys Met Ala Ala Ala Arg 740 745 750 Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Arg Gln 755 760 3 3121 DNA Homo sapiens 3 gcagtgctgc tgaccatgag ccaccaggta aagggcctga aagaggaagg tgacaggctg 60 ggaaggagat cctcaagcaa gcgggctctc aaagccgagg ggaccccagg caggcgcgga 120 gctcagcgaa gccagaagga gcgcgccggg ggcagcccaa gcccggggtc tccccggagg 180 aagcaaacag ggcgcaggag acacagagaa gagctggggg agcaggagcg gggcgaggca 240 gagaggacct gcgagggcag gagaaagcgc gacgagaggg cctccttcca ggagcggaca 300 gcagccccaa agagggaaaa ggagattccg aggaaggagg agaagtcgaa gcggcagaag 360 aaacccaggt catcctcctt ggcctccagt gcctctggtg gggagtccct gtccgaggag 420 gaactggccc agatcctgga gcaggtggaa gaaaaaaaga agctcattgc caccatgcgg 480 agcaagccct ggcccatggc gaagaagctg acagagctca gggaggccca ggaatttgtg 540 gagaagtatg aaggtgcctt gggaaagggg aaaggcaagc aactatatgc ctacaagatg 600 ctgatggcca agaaatgggt caaatttaag agagactttg ataatttcaa gactcaatgt 660 atcccctggg aaatgaagat caaggacatt gaaagtcact ttggttcttc agtggcatcg 720 tatttcatct ttctccgatg gatgtatgga gttaaccttg tcctttttgg cttaatattt 780 ggtctagtca taatcccaga ggtactgatg ggcatgccct atgggagtat tcccagaaag 840 acagtgcctc gggctgagga agaaaaggcc atggattttt ctgtcctttg ggattttgag 900 ggctatatca agtactctgc actcttctat ggctactaca acaaccagag gaccatcggg 960 tggctgaggt accggctgcc tatggcttac tttatggtgg gggtcagcgt gttcggctac 1020 agcctgatta ttgtcattcg atcgatggcc agcaataccc aaggaagcac aggcgaaggg 1080 gagagtgaca acttcacatt cagcttcaag atgttcacca gctgggacta cctgatcggg 1140 aattcagaga cagctgataa caaatatgca tccatcacca ccagcttcaa ggaatcaata 1200 gtggatgaac aagagagtaa caaagaagaa aatatccatc tgacaagatt tcttcgtgtc 1260 ctggccaact ttctcatcat ctgctgtttg tgtggaagtg ggtacctcat ttactttgtg 1320 gttaagcgat ctcagcaatt ctccaaaatg cagaatgtca gctggtatga aaggaatgag 1380 gtagagatcg tgatgtccct gcttggaatg ttttgtcccc ctctgtttga aaccatcgct 1440 gccctggaga attaccaccc acgcactgga ctgaagtggc agctgggacg catctttgca 1500 ctcttcctgg ggaacctcta cacatttctc ttggccctga tggatgacgt ccacctcaag 1560 cttgctaatg aagagacaat aaagaacatc actcactgga ctctgtttaa ctattacaac 1620 tcttctggtt ggaacgagag tgtcccccga ccacccctgc accctgcaga tgtgccccgg 1680 ggttcttgct gggagacagc tgtgggcatt gaattcatga ggctgacggt gtctgacatg 1740 ctggtaacgt acatcaccat cctgctgggg gacttcctac gggcttgttt tgtgcggttc 1800 atgaactact gctggtgctg ggacttggag gctggatttc cttcatatgc tgagtttgat 1860 attagtggaa atgtgctggg tttgatcttc aaccaaggaa tgatctggat gggctccttc 1920 tatgctccag gcctggtggg cattaatgtg ctgcgcctgc tgacctccat gtacttccag 1980 tgctgggcgg tgatgagcag caacgtaccc catgaacgcg tgttcaaagc ctcccgatcc 2040 aacaacttct acatgggcct cctgctgctg gtgctcttcc tcagcctcct gccggtggcc 2100 tacaccatca tgtccctccc accctccttt gactgcgggc cgttcagtgg gaaaaacaga 2160 atgtacgatg tcctccaaga gaccattgaa aacgatttcc caaccttcct gggcaagatc 2220 tttgctttcc tcgccaatcc aggcctgatc atcccagcca tcctgctgat gttcttggcc 2280 atttactacc tgaactcagt ttccaaaagc ctttcccgag ctaatgccca gctgaggaag 2340 aaaatccaag tgctccgtga agttgagaag agtcacaaat ctgtaaaagg caaagccaca 2400 gccagagatt cagaggacac acctaaaagc agctccaaaa atgccaccca gctccaactc 2460 accaaggaag agaccactcc tccctctgcc agccaaagcc aggccatgga caagaaggcg 2520 cagggccctg ggacctccaa ttctgccagc aggaccacac tgcctgcctc tggacacctt 2580 cctatatctc ggccccctgg aatcggacca gattctggcc acgccccatc tcagactcat 2640 ccgtggaggt cagcctctgg aaagagtgct cagagacctc cccactgacg gctaggactc 2700 cagggagcct cgaccctagg gctgatcctc aagtacccca gtttcacaca taccaaacca 2760 aggttctctc ccctctttcc tctcacatac atgctctgtc tcctctcttg gaatgcatga 2820 actttgattc cttcaggccc ttgtcagcta ccgaaggagg aagacagtgg cttcacctgt 2880 cctttaggga agctggagcc atctctgcac taactgccct cccaaatatc ttggttcaga 2940 cagctctgaa ccccacgctc acagtggtcg accttgcctc ccgattttcg gagttgggga 3000 agggccatga ccaccctcgt agactttttc catgggatac agtttaggac acgggtttct 3060 gccagcttcc ctaaccagga gggggatgga gaagggccta catttctcaa tccagaggaa 3120 g 3121 4 890 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Ser His Gln Val Lys Gly Leu Lys Glu Glu Gly Asp Arg Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Arg Arg Ser Ser Ser Lys Arg Ala Leu Lys Ala Glu Gly Thr Pro Gly 20 25 30 Arg Arg Gly Ala Gln Arg Ser Gln Lys Glu Arg Ala Gly Gly Ser Pro 35 40 45 Ser Pro Gly Ser Pro Arg Arg Lys Gln Thr Gly Arg Arg Arg His Arg 50 55 60 Glu Glu Leu Gly Glu Gln Glu Arg Gly Glu Ala Glu Arg Thr Cys Glu 65 70 75 80 Gly Arg Arg Lys Arg Asp Glu Arg Ala Ser Phe Gln Glu Arg Thr Ala 85 90 95 Ala Pro Lys Arg Glu Lys Glu Ile Pro Arg Lys Glu Glu Lys Ser Lys 100 105 110 Arg Gln Lys Lys Pro Arg Ser Ser Ser Leu Ala Ser Ser Ala Ser Gly 115 120 125 Gly Glu Ser Leu Ser Glu Glu Glu Leu Ala Gln Ile Leu Glu Gln Val 130 135 140 Glu Glu Lys Lys Lys Leu Ile Ala Thr Met Arg Ser Lys Pro Trp Pro 145 150 155 160 Met Ala Lys Lys Leu Thr Glu Leu Arg Glu Ala Gln Glu Phe Val Glu 165 170 175 Lys Tyr Glu Gly Ala Leu Gly Lys Gly Lys Gly Lys Gln Leu Tyr Ala 180 185 190 Tyr Lys Met Leu Met Ala Lys Lys Trp Val Lys Phe Lys Arg Asp Phe 195 200 205 Asp Asn Phe Lys Thr Gln Cys Ile Pro Trp Glu Met Lys Ile Lys Asp 210 215 220 Ile Glu Ser His Phe Gly Ser Ser Val Ala Ser Tyr Phe Ile Phe Leu 225 230 235 240 Arg Trp Met Tyr Gly Val Asn Leu Val Leu Phe Gly Leu Ile Phe Gly 245 250 255 Leu Val Ile Ile Pro Glu Val Leu Met Gly Met Pro Tyr Gly Ser Ile 260 265 270 Pro Arg Lys Thr Val Pro Arg Ala Glu Glu Glu Lys Ala Met Asp Phe 275 280 285 Ser Val Leu Trp Asp Phe Glu Gly Tyr Ile Lys Tyr Ser Ala Leu Phe 290 295 300 Tyr Gly Tyr Tyr Asn Asn Gln Arg Thr Ile Gly Trp Leu Arg Tyr Arg 305 310 315 320 Leu Pro Met Ala Tyr Phe Met Val Gly Val Ser Val Phe Gly Tyr Ser 325 330 335 Leu Ile Ile Val Ile Arg Ser Met Ala Ser Asn Thr Gln Gly Ser Thr 340 345 350 Gly Glu Gly Glu Ser Asp Asn Phe Thr Phe Ser Phe Lys Met Phe Thr 355 360 365 Ser Trp Asp Tyr Leu Ile Gly Asn Ser Glu Thr Ala Asp Asn Lys Tyr 370 375 380 Ala Ser Ile Thr Thr Ser Phe Lys Glu Ser Ile Val Asp Glu Gln Glu 385 390 395 400 Ser Asn Lys Glu Glu Asn Ile His Leu Thr Arg Phe Leu Arg Val Leu 405 410 415 Ala Asn Phe Leu Ile Ile Cys Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ile 420 425 430 Tyr Phe Val Val Lys Arg Ser Gln Gln Phe Ser Lys Met Gln Asn Val 435 440 445 Ser Trp Tyr Glu Arg Asn Glu Val Glu Ile Val Met Ser Leu Leu Gly 450 455 460 Met Phe Cys Pro Pro Leu Phe Glu Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Glu Asn Tyr 465 470 475 480 His Pro Arg Thr Gly Leu Lys Trp Gln Leu Gly Arg Ile Phe Ala Leu 485 490 495 Phe Leu Gly Asn Leu Tyr Thr Phe Leu Leu Ala Leu Met Asp Asp Val 500 505 510 His Leu Lys Leu Ala Asn Glu Glu Thr Ile Lys Asn Ile Thr His Trp 515 520 525 Thr Leu Phe Asn Tyr Tyr Asn Ser Ser Gly Trp Asn Glu Ser Val Pro 530 535 540 Arg Pro Pro Leu His Pro Ala Asp Val Pro Arg Gly Ser Cys Trp Glu 545 550 555 560 Thr Ala Val Gly Ile Glu Phe Met Arg Leu Thr Val Ser Asp Met Leu 565 570 575 Val Thr Tyr Ile Thr Ile Leu Leu Gly Asp Phe Leu Arg Ala Cys Phe 580 585 590 Val Arg Phe Met Asn Tyr Cys Trp Cys Trp Asp Leu Glu Ala Gly Phe 595 600 605 Pro Ser Tyr Ala Glu Phe Asp Ile Ser Gly Asn Val Leu Gly Leu Ile 610 615 620 Phe Asn Gln Gly Met Ile Trp Met Gly Ser Phe Tyr Ala Pro Gly Leu 625 630 635 640 Val Gly Ile Asn Val Leu Arg Leu Leu Thr Ser Met Tyr Phe Gln Cys 645 650 655 Trp Ala Val Met Ser Ser Asn Val Pro His Glu Arg Val Phe Lys Ala 660 665 670 Ser Arg Ser Asn Asn Phe Tyr Met Gly Leu Leu Leu Leu Val Leu Phe 675 680 685 Leu Ser Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Tyr Thr Ile Met Ser Leu Pro Pro Ser 690 695 700 Phe Asp Cys Gly Pro Phe Ser Gly Lys Asn Arg Met Tyr Asp Val Leu 705 710 715 720 Gln Glu Thr Ile Glu Asn Asp Phe Pro Thr Phe Leu Gly Lys Ile Phe 725 730 735 Ala Phe Leu Ala Asn Pro Gly Leu Ile Ile Pro Ala Ile Leu Leu Met 740 745 750 Phe Leu Ala Ile Tyr Tyr Leu Asn Ser Val Ser Lys Ser Leu Ser Arg 755 760 765 Ala Asn Ala Gln Leu Arg Lys Lys Ile Gln Val Leu Arg Glu Val Glu 770 775 780 Lys Ser His Lys Ser Val Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Ala Arg Asp Ser Glu 785 790 795 800 Asp Thr Pro Lys Ser Ser Ser Lys Asn Ala Thr Gln Leu Gln Leu Thr 805 810 815 Lys Glu Glu Thr Thr Pro Pro Ser Ala Ser Gln Ser Gln Ala Met Asp 820 825 830 Lys Lys Ala Gln Gly Pro Gly Thr Ser Asn Ser Ala Ser Arg Thr Thr 835 840 845 Leu Pro Ala Ser Gly His Leu Pro Ile Ser Arg Pro Pro Gly Ile Gly 850 855 860 Pro Asp Ser Gly His Ala Pro Ser Gln Thr His Pro Trp Arg Ser Ala 865 870 875 880 Ser Gly Lys Ser Ala Gln Arg Pro Pro His 885 890 5 2895 DNA Mus musculus 5 ttgcaattcc tgattagaga cattctggca ggataccttc aggatgccac ccaaaaaagg 60 tgtgtctggc catttctgat gcaargktgc ctgtcttcct cttarctcct gtcctggaca 120 ttcattatca aggcacaaga ttacattcct cctcaactct tttatgttgc aaatccaagt 180 ggaggagaaa gaagaggata cagaggaaag ctcaagtgaa gaagaagaag ataagctacc 240 cagaagagag agcttgagac caaagaggaa acggaccaga gatgtcatca atgaggatga 300 cccagaaccg gagccggagg atgaagaaac aagaaaggca agagaaaaag aaaggcggag 360 gaggctgcgg agaggagcgg aagaagaaga agaaattgat gaagaggaat tagaacggtt 420 aaaagcactg ctcgatgaga atagacaaat gatcgctact gtcaaatgta aaccttggaa 480 aatggagaag aaaattgaag ttctcaagga agcaaagaaa tttgtgagtg agaatgaagg 540 cgctcttggg aaaggaaagg gaaagaagtg gtttgcattt aagatgatga tggccaagaa 600 atgggcaaaa ttcctccgag attttgagaa cttcaaagcg gcttgcgtcc catgggaaaa 660 caaaatcaag gcaattgaaa gtcagtttgg ttcctcagtg gcctcgtact tcctgttcct 720 caggtggatg tacggcgtca acatggttct ctttgtgttg accttcagcc tcatcatgtt 780 accggagtac ctctggggtt taccgtacgg cagcttacct aggaaaacag tcccaagagc 840 tgaagaagca tctgcagcca actttggtgt gttgtatgac ttcaatggcc tggcgcagta 900 ctctgtcctc ttttatggct attacgacaa taaacgcacg atcggatggc tgaatttccg 960 gctacctctt tcctacttcc tggtggggat tatgtgcatt ggatacagct tcctggttgt 1020 cctcaaagcg atgaccaaaa atattggtga cgatggtggt ggcgatgaca acactttcaa 1080 cttcagctgg aaggtgttct gtagctggga ctatctgatt ggtaaccctg aaacagccga 1140 caacaagttt aactctatca cgatgaactt taaggaagcc atcatagaag agagagccgc 1200 acaggtggag gagaacatcc acctcatcag atttctgagg tttctcgcta acttcttcgt 1260 gttcctcaca cttggtgcaa gtggatacct catcttttgg gctgtgaagc gatcccagga 1320 gttcgcccag caagatcctg acacccttgg gtggtgggaa aaaaatgaaa tgaacatggt 1380 aatgtccctc ctggggatgt tctgtcccac cctgtttgac ttatttgctg aactggaaga 1440 ttaccatcct ctcattgctc tgaagtggct cctggggcgc atttttgctc ttcttctagg 1500 caacttgtat gtattcattc tcgccttgat ggatgagatt aacaacaaga ttgaagagga 1560 gaagcttgtg aaggctaata ttaccctgtg ggaagccaac atgattaagg cttacaatga 1620 atctctctct gggctctctg ggaacaccac aggagcaccc tttttcgttc atcctgcaga 1680 tgtccctcgc ggtccctgct gggaaacaat ggtggggcag gaattcgtgc gtctcaccgt 1740 ttctgacgtc ctgaccactt acgtcacgat cctcattggc gacttcctca gagcatgttt 1800 cgtgaggttc tgcaattact gctggtgctg ggacttagaa tatggatatc cttcatacac 1860 agaattcgac atcagtggca acgtcctcgc tctgatcttc aaccaaggca tgatctggat 1920 gggctccttc ttcgctccta gcctcccggg catcaacatc ctccgtctcc acacatccat 1980 gtatttccag tgctgggctg tgatgtgctg caatgttccc gaggccaggg tgttcaaagc 2040 ttccagatcc aacaacttct acctcggcat gctgctactc atcctcttcc tgtccaccat 2100 gccagtcctg tacatgatcg tctccctccc gccatctttt gattgtgggc ccttcagtgg 2160 taaaaacagg atgtttgaag tcatcggtga gaccctggaa catgacttcc caagctggat 2220 ggcgaagatc ctgaggcagc tttctaaccc cggccttgtc attgctgtca ttctggtgat 2280 ggtcctgacc atctattatc tcaatgctac tgccaagggc cagaaagcag cgaatctgga 2340 cctcaaaaag aagatgaaac agcaagcttt ggagaacaaa atgcgaaaca agaaaatggc 2400 agcggctcga gcagctgcag ctgctggtgg ccagtaattt tatcaaatgt cctggaggtg 2460 cccagaagta ctcttcactt ctgtctttgt atggacagag tgagggccag tgaactgctg 2520 ctctatactc taccaccaat gcaccatcat ggcygcagtc atgaccatct gkcaaggaat 2580 catcagccct ctttgarcaa raaraatctc accattattt atgggaattt tttcaaagaa 2640 ttcttgaact cctcttcttc tctytctctc ctggacaaag kttctcaaac aaatgggagt 2700 ttaaatgtgg gtgtgatgta gtgatacaaa ttactgggta aaaatgatag gatactttaa 2760 aaaagtcaac atttcctcat atggactttt tcttacacac tggtctagtt tcttaaatga 2820 gaggagagct attacaacat cctttgctat ctaaatttgg aactatctgc atgaagcatt 2880 ccttgggatc attca 2895 6 757 PRT Mus musculus 6 Met Leu Gln Ile Gln Val Glu Glu Lys Glu Glu Asp Thr Glu Glu Ser 1 5 10 15 Ser Ser Glu Glu Glu Glu Asp Lys Leu Pro Arg Arg Glu Ser Leu Arg 20 25 30 Pro Lys Arg Lys Arg Thr Arg Asp Val Ile Asn Glu Asp Asp Pro Glu 35 40 45 Pro Glu Pro Glu Asp Glu Glu Thr Arg Lys Ala Arg Glu Lys Glu Arg 50 55 60 Arg Arg Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Ile Asp Glu 65 70 75 80 Glu Glu Leu Glu Arg Leu Lys Ala Leu Leu Asp Glu Asn Arg Gln Met 85 90 95 Ile Ala Thr Val Lys Cys Lys Pro Trp Lys Met Glu Lys Lys Ile Glu 100 105 110 Val Leu Lys Glu Ala Lys Lys Phe Val Ser Glu Asn Glu Gly Ala Leu 115 120 125 Gly Lys Gly Lys Gly Lys Lys Trp Phe Ala Phe Lys Met Met Met Ala 130 135 140 Lys Lys Trp Ala Lys Phe Leu Arg Asp Phe Glu Asn Phe Lys Ala Ala 145 150 155 160 Cys Val Pro Trp Glu Asn Lys Ile Lys Ala Ile Glu Ser Gln Phe Gly 165 170 175 Ser Ser Val Ala Ser Tyr Phe Leu Phe Leu Arg Trp Met Tyr Gly Val 180 185 190 Asn Met Val Leu Phe Val Leu Thr Phe Ser Leu Ile Met Leu Pro Glu 195 200 205 Tyr Leu Trp Gly Leu Pro Tyr Gly Ser Leu Pro Arg Lys Thr Val Pro 210 215 220 Arg Ala Glu Glu Ala Ser Ala Ala Asn Phe Gly Val Leu Tyr Asp Phe 225 230 235 240 Asn Gly Leu Ala Gln Tyr Ser Val Leu Phe Tyr Gly Tyr Tyr Asp Asn 245 250 255 Lys Arg Thr Ile Gly Trp Leu Asn Phe Arg Leu Pro Leu Ser Tyr Phe 260 265 270 Leu Val Gly Ile Met Cys Ile Gly Tyr Ser Phe Leu Val Val Leu Lys 275 280 285 Ala Met Thr Lys Asn Ile Gly Asp Asp Gly Gly Gly Asp Asp Asn Thr 290 295 300 Phe Asn Phe Ser Trp Lys Val Phe Cys Ser Trp Asp Tyr Leu Ile Gly 305 310 315 320 Asn Pro Glu Thr Ala Asp Asn Lys Phe Asn Ser Ile Thr Met Asn Phe 325 330 335 Lys Glu Ala Ile Ile Glu Glu Arg Ala Ala Gln Val Glu Glu Asn Ile 340 345 350 His Leu Ile Arg Phe Leu Arg Phe Leu Ala Asn Phe Phe Val Phe Leu 355 360 365 Thr Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ile Phe Trp Ala Val Lys Arg Ser 370 375 380 Gln Glu Phe Ala Gln Gln Asp Pro Asp Thr Leu Gly Trp Trp Glu Lys 385 390 395 400 Asn Glu Met Asn Met Val Met Ser Leu Leu Gly Met Phe Cys Pro Thr 405 410 415 Leu Phe Asp Leu Phe Ala Glu Leu Glu Asp Tyr His Pro Leu Ile Ala 420 425 430 Leu Lys Trp Leu Leu Gly Arg Ile Phe Ala Leu Leu Leu Gly Asn Leu 435 440 445 Tyr Val Phe Ile Leu Ala Leu Met Asp Glu Ile Asn Asn Lys Ile Glu 450 455 460 Glu Glu Lys Leu Val Lys Ala Asn Ile Thr Leu Trp Glu Ala Asn Met 465 470 475 480 Ile Lys Ala Tyr Asn Glu Ser Leu Ser Gly Leu Ser Gly Asn Thr Thr 485 490 495 Gly Ala Pro Phe Phe Val His Pro Ala Asp Val Pro Arg Gly Pro Cys 500 505 510 Trp Glu Thr Met Val Gly Gln Glu Phe Val Arg Leu Thr Val Ser Asp 515 520 525 Val Leu Thr Thr Tyr Val Thr Ile Leu Ile Gly Asp Phe Leu Arg Ala 530 535 540 Cys Phe Val Arg Phe Cys Asn Tyr Cys Trp Cys Trp Asp Leu Glu Tyr 545 550 555 560 Gly Tyr Pro Ser Tyr Thr Glu Phe Asp Ile Ser Gly Asn Val Leu Ala 565 570 575 Leu Ile Phe Asn Gln Gly Met Ile Trp Met Gly Ser Phe Phe Ala Pro 580 585 590 Ser Leu Pro Gly Ile Asn Ile Leu Arg Leu His Thr Ser Met Tyr Phe 595 600 605 Gln Cys Trp Ala Val Met Cys Cys Asn Val Pro Glu Ala Arg Val Phe 610 615 620 Lys Ala Ser Arg Ser Asn Asn Phe Tyr Leu Gly Met Leu Leu Leu Ile 625 630 635 640 Leu Phe Leu Ser Thr Met Pro Val Leu Tyr Met Ile Val Ser Leu Pro 645 650 655 Pro Ser Phe Asp Cys Gly Pro Phe Ser Gly Lys Asn Arg Met Phe Glu 660 665 670 Val Ile Gly Glu Thr Leu Glu His Asp Phe Pro Ser Trp Met Ala Lys 675 680 685 Ile Leu Arg Gln Leu Ser Asn Pro Gly Leu Val Ile Ala Val Ile Leu 690 695 700 Val Met Val Leu Thr Ile Tyr Tyr Leu Asn Ala Thr Ala Lys Gly Gln 705 710 715 720 Lys Ala Ala Asn Leu Asp Leu Lys Lys Lys Met Lys Gln Gln Ala Leu 725 730 735 Glu Asn Lys Met Arg Asn Lys Lys Met Ala Ala Ala Arg Ala Ala Ala 740 745 750 Ala Ala Gly Gly Gln 755 7 3216 DNA Mus musculus 7 tgcaagagtg gccaagtttg ccgggcgtgg tggcacacgc ctttaatccg agcactcggg 60 aggcagagga aggcgaattt ctgagttcaa ggccagcctg gtctacaaag tgagttccag 120 gacagccagg gctacacaga gaaaccctgt ctccaaaaac caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaata 180 gtggccaagt ttgttccaga ggcccctagt tgccgtcagg ttccaggaag aggccagtga 240 ccatgacagc aggaagtcac cccaggctgg gcagtatatg aagacgtgag ccagtgtgag 300 ggccttgaaa ctctggtaac catgagcccc cagttaaaga gcttggacga ggaaggtgac 360 aagtcagcaa ggagacccac aaggaaacaa acctccagag ctgcatgtcc ccaagacggg 420 caccgagccc aatctagccg gaaggatcct gctaagggta gcccaagacc agggtcttcc 480 cggaagaaac agatggaaca tggaagctat cacaaggggt tgcagggaca gaaaccacga 540 aaggtggaga ggtctctaca ggggaggaag aaggaccgga gaacttccct taaggagcag 600 agagcatctc caaagaagga gagggaggct ctgaggaagg aggcaggcaa gcagctgaga 660 aaacccaggt ccacttcctt gggctccagt gtctctactg gagactccct gtctgaggag 720 gagctggctc agatcctgga acaggtagaa gaaaaaaaga agctcatcac taccgtgagg 780 aacaaaccct ggcccatggc aaagaagctg agggaactca gggaagccca agcctttgtg 840 gagaagtatg aaggagcctt ggggaaaggc aagggcaaac acctctacgc ctacaggatg 900 atgatggcta agaaatgggt caagtttaag agggactttg ataatttcaa gactcaatgt 960 attccctggg aaatgaagat caaggacatt gaaagtcact tcggttcttc tgtggcatct 1020 tacttcatct ttctccgatg gatgtatgga gttaaccttg tcctttttgg cttaatattt 1080 ggtctagtca tcatcccaga ggtgctgatg ggcatgccct atggaagtat acccagaaag 1140 acggtgcctc gagctgagga agagcgagcc atggacttct ctgtcctttg ggattttgag 1200 ggctacatca aatattctgc tctcttctat ggctactaca acaaccagcg gaccattgga 1260 tggctgaggt acaggctgcc catggcttac tttatggtgg gggtcagcgt gtttggctac 1320 agcttgatga tcgtcattag gtcgatggcc agcaataccc agggtagcac cagtgagggg 1380 gacagtgaca gcttcacatt cagcttcaag atgttcacca gctgggacta cctcatcggg 1440 aattcagaga cagcagacaa caaatatgtc tccatcacta ccagcttcaa ggagtctata 1500 gtggacgaac aagagagtaa caaagaaggg aatatccacc tgacaagatt cctccgcgtc 1560 ctggccaact ttctcattct ctgctgtctg tgtggaagcg ggtacctcat ttactttgtg 1620 gtgaaacggt cccaggagtt ctccaaaatg caaaatgtca gctggtatga aaggaatgag 1680 gtggagatcg tgatgtcttt gctagggatg ttttgtcccc ctctgtttga aaccatcgct 1740 gccttggaga attatcaccc acgaactggg ctgaagtggc agctgggccg catctttgcc 1800 ctcttcctgg gaaacctcta cacgtttctc ctggccctca tggacgatgt ccaccttaag 1860 ctttctaatg aggaaaaaat caagaacatc actcactgga ccctgtttaa ctattacaat 1920 tcctcaggtg ggaatgagag tgtgccccgg ccaccaccac accctgcaga tgtgcccaga 1980 ggttcttgct gggagacagc tgtgggcatt gagtttatga ggctcaccgt gtctgacatg 2040 ctggtaacat acctcaccat cttggtcgga gatttcctcc gagcttgttt tgtccggttc 2100 atgaatcact gctggtgttg ggacctcgag gctggttttc cctcatatgc cgagtttgat 2160 attagtggaa atgtgttggg tttgatcttc aaccaaggaa tgatctggat gggctccttc 2220 tatgctccag gactggtggg catcaatgtc ctgcgcctgt tgacctccat gtacttccag 2280 tgctgggcag tgatgagcag caacgttccc cacgaacgtg tgtttaaagc ctccagatcc 2340 aacaacttct acatgggcct gctgctgttg gtgctcttcc tcagcctcct gcctgtggcc 2400 tacaccgtca tgtctctccc accctcgttt gactgtggcc ccttcagtgg gaaaaacaga 2460 atgtacgatg tcctccatga gaccatcgag aacgatttcc ctaagttcct gggcaagatc 2520 tttgcgttcc ttgccaaccc aggcctgatc attccagcca tcctgctaat gtttctggcc 2580 atttactatc tgaactcagt ttcaaaaagt ctttctagag ctaatgccca gctgcgaaag 2640 aagatccaag cgctccgtga agttgagaag aaccataaat ccatcaaggg aaaagccata 2700 gtcacatatt cagaggacac aatcaagaac agctccaaaa atgccaccca gatacatctt 2760 actaaagaag agcccacatc tcactcttcc agccaaatcc agaccctgga caagaaagcg 2820 cagggccccc acacctccag tactgagggt ggggcctcgc catctacctc ctggcaccat 2880 gttgggtctc aaccaccgag aggcagacga gattctggcc aaccccagtc tcagacttac 2940 acaggcaggt caccttctgg aaagagaacc cagaggcctc acaactgatt ttctggcatt 3000 catgggtgtc ccagtccttg gcttgaatct ctactgtttt atatatctct tcccttctca 3060 tctcacatat acaaatgttt ccctatggct tatgtaacat atgaacttta atccttgctt 3120 ccagcccttg attactacct aaagggaaga gcaatggacc tcacacacta gcggtttcct 3180 ttggctccag acttgaggag gcagggatga ggccat 3216 8 888 PRT Mus musculus 8 Met Ser Pro Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Asp Glu Glu Gly Asp Lys Ser Ala 1 5 10 15 Arg Arg Pro Thr Arg Lys Gln Thr Ser Arg Ala Ala Cys Pro Gln Asp 20 25 30 Gly His Arg Ala Gln Ser Ser Arg Lys Asp Pro Ala Lys Gly Ser Pro 35 40 45 Arg Pro Gly Ser Ser Arg Lys Lys Gln Met Glu His Gly Ser Tyr His 50 55 60 Lys Gly Leu Gln Gly Gln Lys Pro Arg Lys Val Glu Arg Ser Leu Gln 65 70 75 80 Gly Arg Lys Lys Asp Arg Arg Thr Ser Leu Lys Glu Gln Arg Ala Ser 85 90 95 Pro Lys Lys Glu Arg Glu Ala Leu Arg Lys Glu Ala Gly Lys Gln Leu 100 105 110 Arg Lys Pro Arg Ser Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser Val Ser Thr Gly Asp 115 120 125 Ser Leu Ser Glu Glu Glu Leu Ala Gln Ile Leu Glu Gln Val Glu Glu 130 135 140 Lys Lys Lys Leu Ile Thr Thr Val Arg Asn Lys Pro Trp Pro Met Ala 145 150 155 160 Lys Lys Leu Arg Glu Leu Arg Glu Ala Gln Ala Phe Val Glu Lys Tyr 165 170 175 Glu Gly Ala Leu Gly Lys Gly Lys Gly Lys His Leu Tyr Ala Tyr Arg 180 185 190 Met Met Met Ala Lys Lys Trp Val Lys Phe Lys Arg Asp Phe Asp Asn 195 200 205 Phe Lys Thr Gln Cys Ile Pro Trp Glu Met Lys Ile Lys Asp Ile Glu 210 215 220 Ser His Phe Gly Ser Ser Val Ala Ser Tyr Phe Ile Phe Leu Arg Trp 225 230 235 240 Met Tyr Gly Val Asn Leu Val Leu Phe Gly Leu Ile Phe Gly Leu Val 245 250 255 Ile Ile Pro Glu Val Leu Met Gly Met Pro Tyr Gly Ser Ile Pro Arg 260 265 270 Lys Thr Val Pro Arg Ala Glu Glu Glu Arg Ala Met Asp Phe Ser Val 275 280 285 Leu Trp Asp Phe Glu Gly Tyr Ile Lys Tyr Ser Ala Leu Phe Tyr Gly 290 295 300 Tyr Tyr Asn Asn Gln Arg Thr Ile Gly Trp Leu Arg Tyr Arg Leu Pro 305 310 315 320 Met Ala Tyr Phe Met Val Gly Val Ser Val Phe Gly Tyr Ser Leu Met 325 330 335 Ile Val Ile Arg Ser Met Ala Ser Asn Thr Gln Gly Ser Thr Ser Glu 340 345 350 Gly Asp Ser Asp Ser Phe Thr Phe Ser Phe Lys Met Phe Thr Ser Trp 355 360 365 Asp Tyr Leu Ile Gly Asn Ser Glu Thr Ala Asp Asn Lys Tyr Val Ser 370 375 380 Ile Thr Thr Ser Phe Lys Glu Ser Ile Val Asp Glu Gln Glu Ser Asn 385 390 395 400 Lys Glu Gly Asn Ile His Leu Thr Arg Phe Leu Arg Val Leu Ala Asn 405 410 415 Phe Leu Ile Leu Cys Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ile Tyr Phe 420 425 430 Val Val Lys Arg Ser Gln Glu Phe Ser Lys Met Gln Asn Val Ser Trp 435 440 445 Tyr Glu Arg Asn Glu Val Glu Ile Val Met Ser Leu Leu Gly Met Phe 450 455 460 Cys Pro Pro Leu Phe Glu Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Glu Asn Tyr His Pro 465 470 475 480 Arg Thr Gly Leu Lys Trp Gln Leu Gly Arg Ile Phe Ala Leu Phe Leu 485 490 495 Gly Asn Leu Tyr Thr Phe Leu Leu Ala Leu Met Asp Asp Val His Leu 500 505 510 Lys Leu Ser Asn Glu Glu Lys Ile Lys Asn Ile Thr His Trp Thr Leu 515 520 525 Phe Asn Tyr Tyr Asn Ser Ser Gly Gly Asn Glu Ser Val Pro Arg Pro 530 535 540 Pro Pro His Pro Ala Asp Val Pro Arg Gly Ser Cys Trp Glu Thr Ala 545 550 555 560 Val Gly Ile Glu Phe Met Arg Leu Thr Val Ser Asp Met Leu Val Thr 565 570 575 Tyr Leu Thr Ile Leu Val Gly Asp Phe Leu Arg Ala Cys Phe Val Arg 580 585 590 Phe Met Asn His Cys Trp Cys Trp Asp Leu Glu Ala Gly Phe Pro Ser 595 600 605 Tyr Ala Glu Phe Asp Ile Ser Gly Asn Val Leu Gly Leu Ile Phe Asn 610 615 620 Gln Gly Met Ile Trp Met Gly Ser Phe Tyr Ala Pro Gly Leu Val Gly 625 630 635 640 Ile Asn Val Leu Arg Leu Leu Thr Ser Met Tyr Phe Gln Cys Trp Ala 645 650 655 Val Met Ser Ser Asn Val Pro His Glu Arg Val Phe Lys Ala Ser Arg 660 665 670 Ser Asn Asn Phe Tyr Met Gly Leu Leu Leu Leu Val Leu Phe Leu Ser 675 680 685 Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Tyr Thr Val Met Ser Leu Pro Pro Ser Phe Asp 690 695 700 Cys Gly Pro Phe Ser Gly Lys Asn Arg Met Tyr Asp Val Leu His Glu 705 710 715 720 Thr Ile Glu Asn Asp Phe Pro Lys Phe Leu Gly Lys Ile Phe Ala Phe 725 730 735 Leu Ala Asn Pro Gly Leu Ile Ile Pro Ala Ile Leu Leu Met Phe Leu 740 745 750 Ala Ile Tyr Tyr Leu Asn Ser Val Ser Lys Ser Leu Ser Arg Ala Asn 755 760 765 Ala Gln Leu Arg Lys Lys Ile Gln Ala Leu Arg Glu Val Glu Lys Asn 770 775 780 His Lys Ser Ile Lys Gly Lys Ala Ile Val Thr Tyr Ser Glu Asp Thr 785 790 795 800 Ile Lys Asn Ser Ser Lys Asn Ala Thr Gln Ile His Leu Thr Lys Glu 805 810 815 Glu Pro Thr Ser His Ser Ser Ser Gln Ile Gln Thr Leu Asp Lys Lys 820 825 830 Ala Gln Gly Pro His Thr Ser Ser Thr Glu Gly Gly Ala Ser Pro Ser 835 840 845 Thr Ser Trp His His Val Gly Ser Gln Pro Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Asp 850 855 860 Ser Gly Gln Pro Gln Ser Gln Thr Tyr Thr Gly Arg Ser Pro Ser Gly 865 870 875 880 Lys Arg Thr Gln Arg Pro His Asn 885 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding transductin-1 (TDC1) or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides.
 2. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the TDC1 is human.
 3. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which (i) encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 105 contiguous amino acids, (ii) consists essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides, (iii) hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof, or (iv) shares 43% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 1. 4. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which (i) encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 105 contiguous amino acids, (ii) consists essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides, (iii) hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 5 or a fragment thereof, or (iv) shares 40% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 5. 5. An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding human TDC1 or a fragment thereof.
 6. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 5, which (i) is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 105 contiguous amino acids, (ii) is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 314 contiguous nucleotides, (iii) hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof, or (iv) shares 43% or more identity with the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO:
 1. 7. An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding transductin-2 (TDC2) or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides.
 8. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, wherein the TDC2 is human.
 9. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, which (i) encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 70 contiguous amino acids, (ii) consists essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides, (iii) hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof, or (iv) shares 49% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 3. 10. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, which (i) encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids, (ii) consists essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides, (iii) hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 7 or a fragment thereof, or (iv) shares 41% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 7. 11. An isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to either of a nucleotide sequence encoding human TDC2 or a fragment thereof.
 12. The isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 11, which (i) is complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 70 contiguous amino acids, (ii) is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 110 contiguous nucleotides, (iii) hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof, or (iv) shares 49% or more identity with the nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO:
 3. 13. A vector comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 14. A vector comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim
 5. 15. A vector comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim
 7. 16. A vector comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim
 11. 17. A composition comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, optionally in the form of a vector, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 18. A composition comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 5, optionally in the form of a vector, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 19. A composition comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, optionally in the form of a vector, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 20. A composition comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule of claim 11, optionally in the form of a vector, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 21. A cell comprising the vector of claim
 13. 22. A cell comprising the vector of claim
 14. 23. A cell comprising the vector of claim
 15. 24. A cell comprising the vector of claim
 16. 25. An isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding TDC1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 95 contiguous amino acids, either one of which is optionally glycoslyated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt.
 26. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 25, wherein the TDC1 is human TDC1.
 27. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 25, which (i) is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 285 contiguous nucleotides, (ii) consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 95 contiguous amino acids or (iii) shares 24% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 2. 28. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 25, which (i) is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 285 contiguous nucleotides, (ii) consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 95 contiguous amino acids or (iii) shares 25% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 6. 29. An isolated or purified polypeptide molecule consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence encoding TDC2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids, either one of which is optionally glycoslyated, amidated, carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated or converted into an acid addition salt.
 30. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 29, wherein the TDC2 is human TDC2.
 31. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 29, which (i) is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 213 contiguous nucleotides, (ii) consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids or (iii) shares 31% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 4. 32. The isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 29, which (i) is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 213 contiguous nucleotides, (ii) consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 71 contiguous amino acids or (iii) shares 34% or more identity with SEQ ID NO:
 8. 33. A composition comprising the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 25 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 34. A composition comprising the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim 29 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 35. A cell line that produces a monoclonal antibody that is specific for the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim
 25. 36. The monoclonal antibody produced by the cell line of claim
 35. 37. A cell line that produces a monoclonal antibody that is specific for the isolated or purified polypeptide molecule of claim
 29. 38. The monoclonal antibody produced by the cell line of claim
 37. 39. A method of detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal, which method comprises detecting at least one mutation in a gene encoding TDC1 in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the TDC1 gene obtained from the animal, wherein the at least one mutation is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 40. A method of detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal, which method comprises detecting at least one mutation in a gene encoding TDC2 in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the TDC2 gene obtained from the animal, wherein the at least one mutation is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 41. A method of determining the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene obtained from an animal, which method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1 gene in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the method is used for prognosticating hearing loss in the animal, which method further comprises comparing the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene in the test sample to the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1 gene is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis, an increase in the level of the nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a decrease in the level of the nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1 gene is indicative of a favorable prognosis, and no change in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene is indicative of no change in the hearing loss.
 43. The method of claim 41, wherein the method is used for assessing the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss in the animal with a given anti-hearing loss agent, which method further comprises comparing the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene in the test sample to the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1 gene is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being effective, an increase in the level of the nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a decrease in the level of the nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC1 gene is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being ineffective, and no change in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC1 gene and/or a mutant TDC1 gene is indicative of no change in the hearing loss due to treatment with the anti-hearing loss agent.
 44. A method of determining the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene in a test sample comprising a nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene obtained from an animal, which method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC2 gene in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the method is used for prognosticating hearing loss in the animal, which method further comprises comparing the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene in the test sample to the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC2 gene is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis, an increase in the level of the nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a decrease in the level of the nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC2 gene is indicative of a favorable prognosis, and no change in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene is indicative of no change in the hearing loss.
 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the method is used for assessing the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss in the animal with a given anti-hearing loss agent, which method further comprises comparing the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene in the test sample to the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or an increase in the level of nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC2 gene is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being effective, an increase in the level of the nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a decrease in the level of the nucleic acid comprising a mutant TDC2 gene is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being ineffective, and no change in the level of nucleic acid comprising the wild-type TDC2 gene and/or a mutant TDC2 gene is indicative of no change in the hearing loss due to treatment with the anti-hearing loss agent.
 47. A method for detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal, which method comprises detecting a mutant TDC1 in a test sample comprising protein comprising TDC1 obtained from the animal, wherein the presence of a mutant TDC1 in the test sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 48. A method for detecting hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in an animal, which method comprises detecting a mutant TDC2 in a test sample comprising protein comprising TDC2 obtained from the animal, wherein the presence of a mutant TDC2 in the test sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 49. A method of determining the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 in a test sample comprising protein comprising wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 obtained from an animal, which method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC1 in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the method is used for prognosticating a hearing loss in the animal, which method further comprises comparing the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 in the test sample to the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC1 is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis, an increase in the level of the wild-type TDC1 and/or a decrease in the level of a mutant TDC1 is indicative of a favorable prognosis, and no change in the level of the wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 is indicative of no change in the hearing loss.
 51. The method of claim 49, wherein the method is used for assessing the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss in the animal with a given anti-hearing loss agent, which method further comprises comparing the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 in the test sample to the level of wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of the wild-type TDC1 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC1 is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being effective, an increase in the level of the wild-type TDC1 and/or a decrease in the level of a mutant TDC1 is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being ineffective, and no change in the level of the wild-type TDC1 and/or a mutant TDC1 is indicative of no change in the hearing loss due to treatment with the anti-hearing loss agent.
 52. A method of determining the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 in a test sample comprising protein comprising wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 obtained from an animal, which method comprises assaying the test sample for the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC2 in the test sample as compared to a control sample is indicative of hearing loss or a predisposition to hearing loss in the animal.
 53. The method of claim 52, wherein the method is used for prognosticating a hearing loss in the animal, which method further comprises comparing the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 in the test sample to the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC2 is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis, an increase in the level of the wild-type TDC2 and/or a decrease in the level of a mutant TDC2 is indicative of a favorable prognosis, and no change in the level of the wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 is indicative of no change in the hearing loss.
 54. The method of claim 52, wherein the method is used for assessing the efficacy of treatment of hearing loss in the animal with a given anti-hearing loss agent, which method further comprises comparing the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 in the test sample to the level of wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2, respectively, in another test sample obtained from the animal over time, wherein a decrease in the level of the wild-type TDC2 and/or an increase in the level of a mutant TDC2 is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being effective, an increase in the level of the wild-type TDC2 and/or a decrease in the level of a mutant TDC2 is indicative of the anti-hearing loss agent being ineffective, and no change in the level of the wild-type TDC2 and/or a mutant TDC2 is indicative of no change in the hearing loss due to treatment with the anti-hearing loss agent.
 55. A method of treating an animal prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss, wherein the hearing loss is due to a complete or partial loss of wild-type TDC1, which method comprises providing TDC1 to the animal, whereupon the animal is treated prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss.
 56. The method of claim 55, wherein TDC1 is provided to the animal by administering to the animal a nucleic acid encoding and expressing wild-type TDC1.
 57. The method of claim 55, wherein TDC1 is provided to the animal by administering to the animal the wild-type TDC1 protein.
 58. A method of treating an animal prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss, wherein the hearing loss is due to a complete or partial loss of wild-type TDC2, which method comprises providing TDC2 to the animal, whereupon the animal is treated prophylactically or therapeutically for hearing loss.
 59. The method of claim 58, wherein TDC2 is provided to the animal by administering to the animal a nucleic acid encoding and expressing wild-type TDC2.
 60. The method of claim 58, wherein TDC2 is provided to the animal by administering to the animal the wild-type TDC2 protein.
 61. A method of identifying one or more agent(s) which interact with a TDC1 gene and/or a TDC2 gene in a cell, which method comprises administering one or more agent(s) to the cell comprising the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene and assaying the expression level of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene by the cell, wherein an increase or decrease in the expression level of the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene is indicative of an interaction between one or more agents and the TDC1 gene and/or the TDC2 gene in the cell. 